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A  HAND-BOOK 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL   CONCERT; 


GUIDE  FOR  THE  CHILDREN'S  PREACHER. 


CONTAINING 

A   HISTORY   OF    CHILDREN'S    WORSHIP;    HINTS   ON   BIBLE    READ- 
ING,   SINGING,    PRAYER,    AND    PREACHING;    FORMS    FOR 
OPENING    AND    CLOSING    SERVICE  ;    CONCERT 
EXERCISES;    SERMON   PLANS;   ETC. 


By  Eet.  H.  clay  TRUMBULL, 

Jissionarn  ^wntarg  of  tl;e  %mmcnn  ^rtnbag  ^t^ool  Wiman 
for  ^tb  ^nglanb. 


.       SPRINGFIELD,  MASS.: 
W.   J.   HOLLAND   &   CO 
1869. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1869,  by 
W.  J.  HOLLAND  &  Co., 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


Samuel  Bowles  &  Company, 
Printers,  Binders  and  Electrotypers 
Springfield,  Mass. 


PREFACE 


This  volume  treats  exclusively  of  children's  worship,  and  of 
gatherings  of  children  for  religious  exercises  of  a  general  rather 
than  a  class  character.  In  this,  it  is  believed  to  differ  from  any 
volume  hitherto  before  the  public.  It  includes  the  idea  of  the 
Sunday-School  Concert,  the  monthly  Missionary  Meeting,  the 
Anniversary,  the  Children's  Church,  and  children's  meetings  for 
inquiry  and  prayer.  It  also  presents,  as  germain  to  these,  the 
matter  of  opening  and  closing  exercises  for  the  ordinary  Sunday- 
school  session — in  fact,  the  whole  subject  of  general  religious 
exercises  with  or  for  children. 

The  book  as  now  presented  is  a  growth  rather  than  a  forma- 
tion. The  author  having  noted,  in  his  wide  observation  of  New 
England  Sunday-schools,  the  value  of  attractive  Bible  recitations 
in  the  Sunday-school  concert,  and  the  evils  growing  out  of  the 
misuse  of  that  service,  purposed  for  a  long  time  the  publication 
of  a  collection  of  approved  concert  exercises,  having  especial 
reliance  on  a  most  valuable  series  prepared  by  Mrs.  S.  J. 
McCall,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  for  the  children  of  her  husband's 
parish.  But,  amid  the  pressure  of  other  duties,  he  would  have 
still  delayed  the  work,  had  it  not  been  for  the  impulse  given  to 
him  by  the  proposal  of  the  Rev.  R.  Crittenden,  of  Towanda, 
Penn.,  to  perform  a  similar  labor.  Mr.  C.  was  formerly  success- 
ful among  children  as  a  pastor,  and  more  recently  has  been 
richly  blessed  as  a  Sunday-school  missionary.  With  a  heart 
full  of  love  for  Jesus  and  the  little  ones,  and  a  head  full  of  plans 
for  the  benefit  of  the  young,  he  was  admirably  fitted  to  go 
forward  in  such  an  undertaking.  An  agreement  was  made  with 
him,  by  the  writer  of  this,  for  a  mutual  prosecution  of  their 


IV  PREFACE. 

work.  He  furnished  choice  lessons  and  other  valuable  material, 
and  for  a  considerable  time  the  book  was  in  preparation  under 
joint  authorship.  But,  as  the  plan  of  the  book  grew  beyond  its 
original  conception,  a  new  arrangement  was  made,  by  which  one 
author  took  the  material  furnished  by  both,  and  added  to  it  his 
collections  from  other  sources,  and  thus  it  came  to  its  present 
shape.  The  patience  of  the  publisher  during  all  the  delay  and 
frequent  changes  has  but  newly  evidenced  his  hearty  personal 
sympathy  with  the  object  of  the  work. 

Writings  from  either  side  of  the  water,  on  any  point  presented 
in  the  book,  have  been  freely  consulted,  and,  with  full  credit, 
quoted.  The  author's  thanks  are  presented  to  the  ministers 
and  laymen  whose  important  contributions  of  sermons,  addresses, 
and  schedules  of  exercises,  are  given  and  acknowledged  in 
different  parts  of  the  volume.  For  what  they  have  thus  done 
for  the  cause  represented  in  the  work,  many  readers  will  be 
grateful. 

It  is  useless  to  attempt  a  fuller  description  of  the  book  in  a 
prefatory  note.  It  must  tell  its  own  story,  on  examination.  The 
hope  is  not  that  it  has  exhausted,  but  that  it  has  newly  opened 
up — for  further  and  better  exposition,  by  others — the  important 
theme  which  it  presents.  The  author's  prayer  is,  that  the 
Saviour  who  loves  the  dear  children  may  own  and  bless  this 
effort  to  swell  those  hosannas  of  the  children  in  the  temple,  which 
he  deemed  "  perfected  praise." 


Hartford,  Ct.,  Dec.  15,  186S. 


1 1{  C  li  TOIn[ 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I.— CHILDREN'S  WORSHIP.      ITS   HISTORY, 
CHARACTER  AND   CLAIMS. 

PAGE. 

The  Children's  Part  in  Worship,  .  .  .  .  "        .  .11 

Special  Services  for  Children,  ......  13 

The  Sunday  School  Concert,      .  .  .  .  .  .  -14 

The  Children's  Bible  Service, 18 

The  Call  for  It, 19 

Its  Availability  and  Attractiveness,  .....  28 

Its  Influence  and  Results,  .  .  .  .  •  .29 

How  to  Conduct  it,     .  .  .  .  .  .  .32 


PART  IL— THE  CHILDREN'S    SERVICE. 
PROPRIATE  EXERCISES. 

OPENING  AND   CLOSING    EXERCISES 
Bible  Reading,     ....... 

Expository  and  Illustrative,  . 

Interrogatory, 

Simultaneous,  . 

Responsive, 
.     Elliptical,^ 
Singing,    ..... 
Prayer,  .... 

Prayer  with  Children, 

Versions  of  the  Lord's  Prayer, 
Specimen  Forms  of  Opening  and  Closing  Service, 

Schedule       I.     By  Henry  P.  Haven, 

Schedule     II.     By  Henry  P.  Haven,    . 

Schedule  III.     By  George  Beal,  Jr., 

Schedule   IV.     By  The  Rev.  R.  Newton,  D.  D. 


ITS  AP- 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


GENERAL    EXERCISES. 


Forms  of  the  Golden  Text, 

Letters, 

Words,       . 

Names, 

Phrases,     . 

Verses, 
Illustrative  and  Proof  Exercises, 

Topical, 

Historical, 

Biographical,   . 

Doctrinal, 

Responsive,     . 
General  Questions, 
Review  Exercises, 
Missionary  Exercises,     . 
Extended  Topical  Exercises, 
Use  of  the  Blackboard, 
Caution  as  to  Speech-Making, 


PAGE. 

.     68 

68 
.     69 

69 
f     70 

71 
.    72 

72 

•  72 
72 

•  73 
73 

•  75 
75 

.  78 
79 

.  80 
81 


PART  III 


Lesson  I. 

Lesson  II. 

Lesson  III. 

Lesson  IV. 

Lesson  V. 

Lesson  VI. 

Lesson  VII. 

Lesson  VIII. 

Lesson  IX. 

Lesson  X. 

Lesson  XI. 
Lesson    XII. 


.—SPECIMEN   BIBLE  LESSONS   FOR  THE 

CHILDREN'S    SERVICE. 
The  Existence  and  Attributes  of  God  as  Exhibited  in  the 

Psalms,  .  .  .  . 

Prophecies  Concerning  Jesus  Christ,  with  their  Recorded 

Fulfillment,  ..... 

Thirty  Prominent  Events  in  Connection  with  the  Life  of 

Jesus  Christ,      ...... 

The   Holy   Ghost.      His  Titles,    Emblem^  Offices  and 

Work 

The  Holy  Scriptures,   ...... 

Man.     His  Condition  by  Nature  and  by  Grace, 

The  Parable  of  the  Prodigal  Son,  Explained  by  Scripture, 

Prayer,      .....•• 

Giving  to  the  Lord.     A  Lesson  for  Missionary  Sunday, 

Scriptural  History  of  Abraham, 

Bible  Mountains  and  their  Lessons, 

Music  and  Musical  Instruments  of  the  Bible, 


86 


130 
140 
151 
159 
170 
177 
187 
194 
204 


CONTENTS. 


VU 


SERMONS    IN    BIBLE   LANGUAGE. 

Lesson  XIII.    The  Good  Shepherd, 

Lesson  XIV.     God's  Love.  .  .  .  .  . 

Lesson    XV.    Jesus  our  Exemplar,    .... 


PAGE. 

.     213 

220 

.      221 


ILLUSTRATIONS 
Lesson    XVI.    Bible  Lovers, 
Lesson  XVII.     Workers  for  Jesus, 
Suggestions  to  the  Leader, 


OF    CLASS    MOTTOE-S. 


224 
226 
227 


PART    IV.— SERMONS   AND   ADDRESSES   TO 
CHILDREN. 


THE   children's    PREACHING    SERVICE 
Bible  Recitations  Not  Sufficient,      ..... 
Rarity  of  Children's  Preachers, 
Claims  of  Children  on  the  Ministry, 
Inducements  to  Preach  to  Them, 
Preaching  to  Them  not  an  Easy  Matter, 
Where  There's  a  Will  There's  a  Way, 
Preparation  for  the  Work,  . 
No  Stereotyped  Plan,  . 
Old  Time  Practice,  . 
Crumbs  from  the  Adults'  Table, 


231 

•  231 
232 

•  234 
238 

•  239 
241 

•  243 
244 

.  245 


ELEMENTS    OF   SUCCESS. 

Have  Something  to  Teach,     ......  .     249 

Have  a  Plan  of  Teaching,  .......  251 

Use  Simple  Language,  .            •            .            .            .           .           .  .    255 


Few  Essentials  to  Hopeful  Speech, 

Questioning  on  the  Truth  Taught, 

The  Use  of  Illustration, 

Preach  Bible  Truth,  .         ♦. 

Treat  Sacred  Themes  Reverently, 

Variety  Desirable,  . 

Keep  Children's  Minds  Active, 

Manner  of  Address, 

Seating  of  the  Children, 


258 
258 
263 
268 
271 
272 
274 
274 
276 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 


SPECIMEN    DISCOURSES. 

PAGE. 

The  Ruling  Power  of  Jesus.     By  The  Rev.  S.  H.  Tyng,  D.  D.,    .  .     278 

Samson's  Riddle,  or  the  Slayer  Slain.  By  The  Rev.  A.  J.  Gordon,  .  284 
Against  Temptation.     By  The  Rev.  R.  T.  Robinson,  .  .  .288 

Total  Depravity.     By  The  Rev.  Alfred  Taylor,  ....  294 

A  Children's  Service.     By  The  Rev.  J.  H.  Vincent,  .  .  .    300 

Tasting  God's  Goodness.     By  The  Rev.  H.  D.  Gahse,  .  .  '303 

The  Young  Follower  of  Christ.  By  The  Rev.  F.  D.  Huntington,  D.  D.,  311 
Outline  of  a  Sermon  on  Reading.  By  The  Rev.  James  M.  Freeman,  .  317 
Believing  in  Jesus.  By  Ralph  Wells,  .....  321 
The  Willow.     By  E.  D.  Jones,  .  .  •  .  .  .325 

Sketch  of  an  Address  on  Besetting  Sins.     By  William  Reynolds,  .        330 

OTHER    MEETINGS    FOR   CHILDREN. 

Expect  Immediate  Results  from  Preaching,  .....  334 
Children's  Inquiry  and  Prayer  Meeting,  .  •  •  •  •  337 


APPENDIX. 


HISTORICAL    NOTES    ON    CHILDREN  S    WORSHIP. 

Worship  by  the  Young  in  the  Schools  of  the  Prophets, 

Care  of  Children  by  Ministers  in  the  Early  Church, 

Children's  Worship  Commended  in  the  Second  Century,     . 

Children's  Claims  Never  Wholly  Ignored  by  the  Church, 

Bible  Recitations  among  the  Waldenses  in  the  Thirteenth  Century, 

Ignatius  Loyola's  Jesuit  Schools  in  the  Sixteenth  Century, 

Carlo  Borromeo's  Idea  of  Priestly  Responsibility  for  Children,  1560-84, 

Romish  Zeal  for  Youth  in  Bohemia,  1584, 

Revival  among  Moravian  Children,  1727, 

Children's  Meeting  in  Penn.,  1829,      . 

Services  for  Children  in  Boston,  1834-5,    . 

Worship  for  Children,  Nismes,  France,  1S46, 

English  Plan  for  Children's  Services.  1847, 

Call  for  a  Children's  Chapel,    .  .  .  ^ 

Children's  Church  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  1861-3, 

Separate  Services  in  London,  1868,     . 

Western  Advocacy  of  Children's  Church,  . 

Books  for  the  Leader  of  Children's  Meetings, 


343 
344 
344 
344 
344 
345 
345 
346 
346 
346 
347 
347 
347 
348 
348 
349 
350 
350 


^K^f 


♦vVVvf^ 


PART    I, 


CHILDREN'S  WORSHIP. 


ITS  HISTORY,  CHARACTER  AND  CLAIMS. 


Children  in  the  Temple. 


THE   CHILDREN'S   PART   IN  WORSHIP. 


SINCE  the  day*  when  "the  chief  priests  and 
scribes  "  saw  "  the  children  crying  in  the  temple," 
at  Jerusalem,  "and  saying,  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of 
David,"  and  were  "  sore  displeased,"  and  made  com- 
plaint of  the  sacrilege,  but  were  met  by  the  Saviour's 
assurance  that  this  worship  had  divine  approval,  the 
struggle  has  been  going  on  between  the  friends  and 
opposers  of  children  in  the  temple,  and  it  is  not 
quelled  to-day. 

Devout  men,  and  reverent  church  dignitaries,  not  a 
few,  have  been  loath  to  consider  children  as  entitled 
to  a  full  share  in  sanctuary  services,  and  as  fitted  for 
an  active  part  in  God's  public  worship  ;  but  other  fol- 
lowers of  Jesus,  ministers  and  people  alike,  have  been 

*  Matt.  xxi.  1 2- 1 6. 


12  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

ever  glad  to  accept  his  teachings  as  to  the  place  of  the 
little  ones ;  *  and  their  response  to  those  censuring  any 
prominence  of  children  in  the  temple  service,  has  been 
in  his  rebuking  words :  "  Have  ye  never  read,  Out  of 
the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings  hast  thou  perfected 
praise  ? " 

Jesus  Christ  "is  the  same,  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and 
forever."  Should  he  now,  in  bodily  presence,  visit 
any  sanctuary  upreared  to  his  praise,  even  if  he  found 
to  condemn  any  money-changing  or  dove-selling,  in 
pulpit,  or  pew,  or  choir,  he  would  make  no  complaint  of 
the  decorous,  hearty  and  outspoken  worship  of  his  holy 
name  by  those  of  tenderest  years  .for  such  an  offering. 

And  he  would  find  more  of  such  worship  now,  than 
ever  before.  His  cause  has  made  progress.  His  truth 
has  gained  power  over  the  hearts  of  his  people. 
Worship  itself  has  more  prominence  in  the  exercises 
of  God's  house.  While  preaching  is  more  valued,  it  is 
understood  to  be  in  no  sense  limited  to  pulpit  efforts. 
Prayer  and  praise  are  assuming  relatively  greater  im- 
portance, in  the  exercises  of  God's  house  and  day. 
Many  who  formerly  said,  "  O  come  let  us  hear  two 
sermons  to-day.  Let  us  sit  in  silence  before  the 
preacher," — and  there  rested  their  interest  in  sanc- 
tuary services, — now  say,  also,  in  reverence  :  ''  O  come, 
let  us  worship  and  bow  down;  let  us  kneel  before 
the  Lord  our  Maker."  "Let  us  come  before  his 
presence  with  thanksgiving,  and  make  a  joyful  noise 
unto  him  with  psalms."  t     And  where  worship  is  made 

*  See  Appendix.  t  Psalms  xcv.  2,  6. 


THE    CHILDREN  S   BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 3 

prominent,  the  perfected  praise  of  the  youngest  follow- 
ers of  Jesus  is  likely  to  be  best  appreciated. 

Moreover,  the  hearts  of  the  fathers  are  being  turned 
to  the  children,  by  the  power  of  God's  Spirit;  and  the 
little  ones  of  the  fold  of  Jesus  are  now  more  generally 
accepted  by  his  disciples  as  their  example  and  their 
charge.  "  Except  ye  be  converted,  and  become  as 
little  children,  ye  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven;"*  "Whosoever  shall  not  receive  the  king- 
dom of  God  as  a  little  child,  shall  in  no  wise  enter 
therein ; "  t  "  Feed  my  lambs ; "  $  "  Whoso  shall  receive 
one  such  little  child  in  my  name,  receiveth  me;"  §  "for 
of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  hea\;en ; "  || — these  and  kindred 
teachings  of  the  Son  of  God  have  new  force  in  the 
minds  of  his  people ;  and  while  in  every  branch  of  the 
Christian  church,  the  Sunday-school  is  provided  for 
the  formal  instruction  of  children,  and  the  young  are 
cordially  invited  to  a  place  with  the  adults  as  hearers 
at  ordinary  church  services,  the  feeling  is  gaining 
ground  that  something  more,  in  the  way  of  general 
religious  exercises  for  children,  is  needed  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  their  nature,  and  to  conform  to  the 
teachings  of  Jesus  in  their  behalf. 

SPECIAL   SERVICES    FOR   CHILDREN. 

In  England,  the  question  of  proper  religious  services 
for  children  has  long  attracted  attention,  and  been  a 
fruitful  theme  of  discussion.     For  a  third  of  a  century 

*  Matt,  xviii.  3.  t  Luke  xviii.  17.  t  John  xxi.  15. 

§  Matt,  xviii.  5.  II  Matt.  xix.  14- 


14  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

some  of  the  ablest  writers  for  the  Sunday-school  cause, 
in  that  country,  have  earnestly  advocated  a  system  of 
separate  or  special  services,  for  worship  or  preaching, 
or  both,  suited  to  the  capacity  or  needs  of  the  young, 
as  essential  tb  the  full  religious  culture  of  those  now  in 
the  Sunday-school.  Such  services  have  been  finding 
more  favor  as  their  influence  has  become  better  known. 
Within  a  few  years  past,  the  evangelistic  labors  of  the 
Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond,  among  children  in  Great 
Britain,  have  called  new  attention  to  the  value  of  chil- 
dren's meetings  for  inquiry,  or  prayer,  or  to  hear 
preaching,  or  to  join  in  acts  of  worship;  and  even 
where  the  immediate  result  of  the  meetings  conducted 
by  the  evangelist  have  not  met  the  expectations  of 
lovers  of  the  children,  much  good  has  come  of  later 
gatherings  of  similar  character,  under  the  quieter  lead 
of  the  parish  pastor  or  some  of  his  home  helpers. 
And  now,  reports  of  such  meetings,  conducted  success- 
fully and  with  rich  accruing  blessings,  under  the  over- 
sight of  "  The  Children's  Special  Service  Mission,"  or 
of  individual  workers,  in  particular  localities,  find  a 
frequent  place  in  the  Sunday-school  periodicals  of  the 
old  world  j  and  this  mode  of  providing  for  the  children 
is  joyed  over  by  many  as  furnishing  the  "  missing  link" 
between  the  Sunday-school  and  the  sanctuary. 

THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   CONCERT. 
In  this  country,  what  is  known  as  the  "  Sunday-School 
Concert "  has  been  found  a  flexible  means  of  provid- 
ing a  service  for  children,  and  of  securing  to  them  their 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 5 

place  in  the  temple.  In  various  stages  of  transition, 
this  is  now  a  widely  popular  religious  service  of  the 
young,  and  as  such  is  entitled  to  more  attention  than 
it  has  obtained  in  the  Sunday-school  literature  of  the 
day.  Fugitive  scraps  in  the  periodicals,  or  occasional 
chapters  in  volumes  treating  of  the  whole  Sunday- 
school  system,  comprise  most  that  has  been  written  on 
this  agency.  Its  origin  and  history  are  still  compara- 
tively little  known  among  Sunday-school  men,  and  its 
capabilities  for  good  are  but  now  being  appreciated 
by  those  who  would  do  most  for  the  spiritual  welfare 
of  the  young.  Hence,  an  attempt  to  develop  the  idea 
which  its  growing  popularity  indicates  as  in  the  mind 
of  the  Christian  church,  can  hardly  fail  to  be  welcomed 
by  the  lovers  of  the  little  ones,  and  of  him  who  took 
them  in  his  arms  and  blessed  them. 

The  Sunday-school  concert  was  originally  a  monthly 
meeting  for  prayer  in  behalf  of  Sunday-schools,  held 
in  "  concert "  throughout  the  United  States,  on  the  sec- 
ond  Monday  evening  of  each  month,  in  imitation  of 
the  monthly  concert  of  prayer  for  missions,  which  had 
long  been  observed,  in  this  and  other  lands,  on  Xki^  first 
Monday  evening  of  the  month.  It  gained  a  national 
prominence  through  its  recommendation  by  the  Board 
of  Managers  of'the  American  Sunday-school  Union, 
in  September,  1824,  and  its  growth  in  favor  was  thence- 
forward correspondent  with  the  extension  of  the  Sun- 
day-school system. 

Both  the  missionary  and  Sunday-school  concerts 
v/ere,  after  a  time,  changed  from  Monday  to  Sunday 


l6  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

evenings;  and  gradually  another  change  than  that  of 
the  time  of  holding  it  took  place  in  the  latter,  until 
it  came  to  be  counted  rather  as  a  meeting  of  children, 
than  one  for  prayer  in  their  behalf.  This  change  has 
been  lamented  by  some ;  but  there  are  reasons  for  be- 
lieving that  it  resulted  from  an  increase,  not  from  a 
diminution,  of  interest  in  the  children's  welfare. 

At  first,  the  Sunday-school  was  viewed  only  as  a 
missionary  agency  to  children  not  in  Christian  families, 
and  the  monthly  meeting  to  pray  for  its  success  was 
of  the  friends  of  a  novel  instrumentality  for  the  benefit 
of  a  limited  class.  But  with  the  growth  of  the  Sun- 
day-school interest,  children  grew  in  prominence  before 
the  church,  and  new  opinions  gained  ground,  of  their 
capacity  to  love  and  serve  Jesus.  The  value  of  in- 
structing them  in  Bible  truth,  (instead  of  merely  indoc- 
trinating them  in  catechetical  forms,  as  was  the  old 
time  practice,)  was  evidenced  by  the  early  conversion 
of  very  many  in  these  new  nurseries  of  piety,  and 
gradually  Christian  parents  came  to  perceive  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  public  teaching  of  God's  word  to  their 
children,  and  the  Sunday-school  was  taken  to  the  heart 
of  the  church,  as  a  precious  agency  for  the  spiritual 
culture  of  the  younger  members  of  its  charge. 

In  its  new  prominence,  the  Sunday-school  is,  as  a 
rule,  prayed  for  in  all  religious  meetings,  and  by  Chris- 
tians generally,  rather  than  at  a  single  service  in  the 
month,  by  only  an  interested  few.  The  necessity  of 
a  special  monthly  prayer-meeting  in  its  behalf  is  hardly 
more  apparent  than  of  a  similar  gathering  in  the  inter- 


THE    children's   BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 7 

est  of  other  church  work — the  pulpit  preaching,  the 
service  of  song,  or  social  and  family  worship.  Teach- 
ers are  expected  to  meet  often  in  prayer  for  their 
particular  charge,  and  pastors  and  people  are  to  sup- 
plicate, at  all  fitting  times,  God's  blessing  on  church 
efforts  among  the  most  hopeful  portion  of  the  flock. 
But,  with  the  passing  away  of  the  erroneous  idea  that 
the  Sunday-school  is  purely  an  outside  or  missionary 
agency,  the  character  of  all  the  services  in  connection 
with  it  is  naturally  modified,  elevated  and  improved. 
Hence,  the  prominence  attained  by  the  modern  Sun- 
day-school concert  as  the  children's  monthly  meeting 
for  worship. 

That  the  name  "Sunday-School  Concert"  is  inap- 
propriate to  this  service  as  now  conducted,  can  hardly 
be  questioned.  It  is  liable  to  misapprehension,  being 
supposed  by  some  to  refer  merely  to  a  singing  exercise 
of  the  Sunday-school,  while  at  the  best  it  fails  to  indi- 
cate the  character  or  design  of  the  service.  Indeed, 
in  many  places  the  term  is  no  longer  known.  In  New 
York  and  some  other  cities,  the  ** Concert"  is  sup- 
planted in  great  measure  by  the  "  Missionary  Sunday  " 
or  "  Missionary  Meeting,"  when  the  children  make 
their  missionary  offerings,  hear  from  previous  contribu- 
tions, and  listen  to  appropriate  addresses.  Now  and 
then  the  "Children's  Church,"  on  the  plan  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Newton's  exercise  of  preaching  to  the  children, 
with  questions  freely  put  to  them,  and  a  part  assigned 
them  in  the  singing  and  prayers,  has  the  half-Sab- 
bath in  every    month   formerly   given  to  the  concert. 


1 8  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Even  where  the  old  name  is  adhered  to,  there  is  by 
no  means  a  uniformity  of  practice  in  the  conduct  of 
the  exercises.  In  many  places  the  Sunday-school 
concert  is  merely  a  monthly  meeting  of  the  children 
and  their  friends,  where  the  little  folks  do  the  singing, 
and  listen  to  short  talks  from  pastor,  superintendent, 
or  others.  But,  extensively  throughout  New  England 
and  the  Central  States,  and  more  or  less  in  other  parts 
of  the  country,  the  concert  is  now  a  monthly  gathering 
of  members  of  the  Sunday-school  and  their  friends,  for 
general  rather  than  for  class  exercises,  at  a  time  not 
conflicting  with  the  ordinary  sessions  of  the  school — 
taking  the  place  of  the  second  regular  service  of  the 
sanctuary,  or  held  in  the  early  evening. 

Its  exercises  of  worship;  led  by  either  pastor  or 
superintendent,  are  suited  to  the  capacity  of  children ; 
and  Bible  recitations,  by  young  and  old  alike,  consti- 
tute one  of  its  peculiar  attractions.  Indeed,  it  is 
chiefly  from  its  value  as  a  recitative  Bible-service 
that  it  has  so  widely  gained  Christian  approval. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  BIBLE  SERVICE. 
The  design  of  this  recitative  Bible-service  is  to 
connect  the  Sunday-school  more  immediately  with 
the  sanctuary,  while  full  church  services  for  children 
are  yet  so  rare.  By  its  occasional  general  exer- 
cises— monthly  if  not  more  frequent — it  stores  the 
minds  of  the  young  with  the  treasures  of  God's 
Word,    and    brings    them    to    a    love    of    his    house 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 9 

and  an  active  part  in  his  worship.  Stimulating  them 
to  "  search  the  Scriptures,"  it  tends,  by  its  recitations, 
to  aid  them  to  "lay  up  the  words  of  God  in  their 
heart  and  in  their  soul,  and  to  keep  them  in  the  midst 
of  their  heart."  Instead  of  praying,  reading  and  sing- 
ing only  by  proxy,  as  is  too  commonly  the  case  with 
our  adult  congregations,  the  children  are  in  this  service 
to  have  each  a  part  in  its  varied  exercises,  and  thus 
unconsciously  to  be  preparing  to  assume,  in  maturer 
years,  the  responsibilities  of  the  social  prayer-meeting, 
which  so  many  professing  Christians  shirk.  And  by 
it  they  are  to  be  brought  under  the  more  direct  influ- 
ence of  the  pastor,  into  closer  association  with  the 
general  congregation,  and  to  a  permanent  place  at  the 
weekly  preaching  service  for  their  benefit,  to  which  it 
is  likely  to  lead. 

THE   CALL   FOR   IT. 

The  propriety  of  such  a  service  would  hardly  be 
questioned  but  for  the  latent  heresy  in  the  church  as 
to  the  capabilities  of  childhood  and  the  value  of  efforts 
to  save  the  young — the  heresy  which  manifested  it- 
self when  the  disciples  much  displeased  Jesus  by 
standing  between  him  and  the  dear  children  brought 
by  anxious  mothers  for  his  blessing,  and  which  has 
never  wholly  died  out  from  among  Christ's  people. 
But,  in  view  of  this  heresy,  it  may  be  well,  while 
urging  the  children's  claim  to  the  sanctuary  services 
for  at  least  one  half-Sabbath  in  the  month,  to  make 
mention   of  a  few  important  truths. 


20  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

I.  Children  are  not  at  present  properly  provided  for  in 
the  "  regular"  Sabbath  services  which  they  are  expected  to 
attend. 

"  The  public  services  of  the  Lord's  day  do  not  meet 
the  emergency,"  says  a  well-known  English  writer  on 
this  subject.*  "  Preaching,  with  a  few  happy  excep- 
tions, overshoots  the  juvenile  portion  of  the  congrega- 
tion. The  long,  dry  sermons  which  they  often  hear 
from  Sunday  to  Sunday  rather  tend  to  associate  feelings 
of  distaste  in  their  minds  with  the  services  of  the  temple, 
than  to  render  the  day  to  them  '  a  delight — the  holy  of 
the  Lord  and  honorable.' "  "  How  much  of  public 
preaching  is  utterly  unintelligible  and  useless  to 
them  !"  says  the  veteran  American  Sunday-school  pas- 
tor,! in  an  appeal  in  behalf  of  the  children.  "  Often, 
necessarily,  of  subjects  beyond  their  reach.  Often, 
unnecessarily,  in  language  which  they  cannot  compre- 
hend." 

Indeed,  so  prominent  is  the  lack  for  children  in  the 
ordinary  sanctuary  services,  that  not  a  few  distin- 
guished Christian  educatgrs  have  questioned  the  pro- 
priety of  taking  children  to  church,  while  no  provision 
is  there  made  for  their  instruction.  "I  am  by  no 
means  sure,"  said  President  Sears  of  Brown  Univer- 
sity, "of  the  good  effect  on  children  of  sitting  in 
listlessness,  and  acquiring  habits  of  inattention  in  the 
house  of  God,  when  nothing  is  offered  to  them  from 
the  pulpit,  and  they  are  not  expected  to  understand, 

*Rev.  J.  F.  Serjeant,  in  "  Sunday-School  Teaching,"  p.  4. 

t  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng,  in  "  Forty  Years'  Experience  in  Sunday-Schools,"  p.  209. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  21 

or  to  have  a  part  in,  the  exercises  of  worship."  In 
Hke  doubt,  the  Rev.  Newman  Hall,  as  .Chairman  of 
the  English  Congregational  Union,  enquired  in  his 
address  at  the  autumnal  meeting,  in  Sheffield,  in  1866, 
"  Should  little  children  be  encouraged  to  attend  our 
public  services  ?  If  those  services  are  suited  for  adults 
will  the  children  be  interested  ?  and  if  not,  is  it  likely 
they  will  love  the  house  and  day  of  God."^  With 
more  of  positiveness,  a  prize  essay  of  the  London 
Sunday-school  Union  t  has  declared  distinctly  against 
"  the  practice  of  taking  little  or  ignorant  children  to 
the  public  services  of  the  sanctuary,"  adding  in  perti- 
nent suggestion,  what  may  be  thoughtfully  considered 
even  by  those  who  are  as  yet  unwilling  to  give  it 
approval :  "  What  habits  are  really  formed  by  this 
practice  ?  The  habits  of  sleeping,  of  inattention  and 
listlessness,  of  day-dreaming  and  vain  thoughts,  and 
of  dislike  and  aversion  to  the  Sabbath  and  the  sanc- 
tuaiy.  These  habits  are  more  or  less  formed  in  every 
child  so  trained,  and  cling  to  them  in  after  life  with  an 
almost  unconquerable  force.  Whence  arise  the  com- 
plaints so  often  reiterated  by  pious  persons,  of  wan- 
dering thoughts,  distracted  attention,  incapability  of 
fixing  their  minds  on  the  preacher,  but  from  the  fact 
that  for  many  years  in  early  life  they  were  forming  the 
habit  of  hearing  without  attending — of  sitting  statue- 
.like,  without  an  effort  to  understand  or  to  remember  ?" 

*"The  Union  Magazine  for  Sunday-School  Teachers.     London.    June,  1867 ; 
p.  294. 
t  "The  Sunday-School,"  by  Louisa  Davids,  p.  215. 


22  THE    CHILDREN  S   BIBLE   SERVICE. 

Would  it  not  be  well  if  so  sad  a  lack  were  well  sup- 
plied ? 

II.  The  church  has  a  duty  of  preaching  Christ  to  the 
children^  in  addition  to  the  instructions  of  the  parent  and 
the  Sunday-school  teacher. 

The  young  are  the  larger  as  well  as  the  more  impress- 
ible portion  of  the  entire  community.  They,  surely, 
should  not  be  overlooked  in  the  effort  to  "  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature."  Family  religious  instruction 
is  most  deplorably  deficient  in  even  the  most  thoroughly 
evangelized  communities  ;  while  in  neighborhoods  un- 
blessed by  the  ministrations  of  the  Gospel,  the  children 
receive  almost  no  "nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord."  Since  the  first  family  there  have  been  sad 
defects  in  the  best  households,  and  the  church  has 
been  needed  to  supplement — although  never  to  abro- 
gate— the  family  institution.  He  would  be  a  presump- 
tuous father  who  would  willingly  dispense  with  the 
agency  of  the  church  and  its  ordinances  in  the  relig- 
ious training  of  his  offspring. 

The  Sunday-school  supplies,  in  a  measure,  an  essen- 
tial lack  in  the  family  for  the  spiritual  culture  of  the 
young.  "  The  one  may  give  the  advantage  of  solitary 
religious  teaching.  The  other  alone  engrafts  upon 
this,  and  adds  to  this,  the  social  benefits  and  oppor- 
tunities of  pleasant  religious  relations  and  religious  in- 
fluences in  association.  Accordingly,  the  perfect  scheme 
and  the  perfect  operation  are  only  to  be  found  in  the 
combination  of  the  two.""^ 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng's  "  Forty  Years'  Experience  in  Sunday  Schools,"  p.  57. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  23 

But  the  Sunday-school  should  not  be  entirely  dis- 
connected from  other  services  of  the  Lord's  house. 
It  should  look  to  their  identification  with  the  people 
of  God  in  all  the  temple  ministrations.  The  command, 
"  Feed  my  lambs,"  should  be  accepted  as  binding  on 
the  ministry  and  the  entire  church,  as  well  as  on  the 
parent  and  the  special  teacher.  The  word  of  truth 
should  be  "  rightly  divided  "  from  the  pulpit  to  the  chil- 
dren. Hence,  such  intermediate  services  as  tend  to 
this  consummation,  and  link  the  Sunday-school  to 
other  exercises  of  the  sanctuary,  are  likely  to  promote 
the  true  welfare  of  young  and  old,  the  salvation  of 
souls,  and  the  honor  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  church. 

HI.  The  giving  to  children  a  shm-e  in  church  services 
is  no  new  idea  of  modern  innovators.  It  is  an  old-time 
custom^  to  be  venerated  for  its  antiquity  by  lovers  of  the 
ancient  landmarks. 

T.  H.  Home  says,  in  his  Introduction  to  the  Study 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  that  at  the  Feast  of  the  Pass- 
over the  Jews  were  accustomed,  during  the  celebration 
of  that  most  sacred  festival  of  the  year,  to  clear  the 
tables,  "that  the  children  might  inquire,  and  be  histructed 
in  the  nature  of  the  feast.  The  text  on  which  they 
generally  discoursed  was  Deut.  xxvi.  5-1 1." 

When  Moses  was  commanded  to  summon  all  Israel 
"  to  appear  before  the  Lord,"  to  hear  the  reading  of 
the  law,  he  was  told  of  God  to  "gather  the  people 
together,  men  and  women  and  children,^^^  and  when 
Joel's  inspired  cry  was  to  "  blow  the  trumpet  in  Zion," 

*  Deut.  xxxi.  12. 


24  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

to  "  call  a  solemn  assembly,"  and  to  gather  the  people, 
he  ,,did  not  forget  the  injunction,  "  Gather  the  chil- 
dren,"* for  these  were  never  ignored  in  the  plans  of  the 
theocracy.  It  was  no  meaningless  utterance  in  which 
David  gave  thanks  to  God :  "  Out  of  the  mouth  of 
babes  and  sucklings  hast  thou  ordained  strength  "  f — 
or,  as  Jesus  rendered  it,  when  he  approved  the  chil- 
dren's worship  in  the  temple,  "perfected  praise."  1: 

IV.  In  all  study  of  church  history  it  will  be  found  that 
when  Zio7i  has  prospered  her  children  have  been  diligejitly 
^^ taught  of  the  Lord"  while  in  her  days  of  sloth  her 
prophets  have  lamented  that  '■'■the  young  children  lack 
bread  and  no  man  breaketh  it  unto  them."  § 

After  the  Jewish  captivity,  it  was  a  popular  saying 
among  the  scattered  people  of  God,  that  "  Jerusalem 
was  destroyed  because  the  instruction  of  the  young 
was  neglected ; "  and  again,  it  was  declared  that  "  Even 
for  the  rebuilding  of  the  temple  the  schools  must  not 
be  interrupted."  Those  branches  of  the  Christian 
church  which  have  held  the  faith  in  its  purity  in  sea- 
sons of  general  religious  declension,  have  almost  in- 
variably been  those  which,  like  the  Waldenses  and 
Moravians,  have  given  prominence  to  the  public  relig- 
ious instruction  of  the  ycjung,  while  the  Jews  and 
Romanists,  who  have  surprised  the  world  by  their  hold' 
on  the  faith  of  succeeding  generations,  have  relied  for 
success  more  on  their  work  among  children  than  upon 
all  other  endeavors  to  perpetuate  their  peculiar  views. 

It  was  in  full  recognition  of  the  time-honored-cus- 

*Joel  ii.  i6.  tPs.  viii.  2.  J  Matt.  xxi.  16.  §  Lam.  iv.  4. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  25 

torn  of  instructing  the  children  in  the  sanctuary,  that 
the  church  at  Roxbury,  Mass.,  of  which  Rev.  John 
EUot,  the  Indian  apostle,  was  pastor,  declared  by  its 
record,  "In  1674,  6th,  loth  month,"  that  "This  day 
we  restored  a  primitive  practice-  for  y^  training  up  of  our 
youth,"  and  then  described  the  assembling  "every 
Sabbath  after  morning  exercise,"  of  the  children,  to 
be  examined  by  the  elders  not  only  "in  the  Cate- 
chism," but  in  "whatever  else  may  convene."  And  it 
was  in  a  similar  spirit  that  a  few  months  later  "the 
church  in  Norwich,  in  Connecticut  Colony,"  regretting 
the  "  great  degree  of  dangerous  neglects  of  that  which 
ought  to  be  for  the  prevention  of  apostasie,"  solemnly 
renewed  a  covenant,  the  first  clause  of  which  was : 
"That  our  children  shall  be  brought  up  in  the  Ad- 
monition of  The  Lord,  as  in  our  Families,  so  in 
Publick ;  that  all  the  Males  who  are  eight  or  nine 
years  of  age,  shall  be  presented  before  the  Lord  in 
his  Congregation  every  Lord's  Day  to  be  catechised, 
until  they  be  about  thirteen  years  in  age."  And  such 
proofs  might  be  multiplied  indefinitely  of  the  antiquity 
of  public  services  for  the  religious  culture  of  the 
young. 

V.  Special  sanctuary  services  for  the  children^  in  one 
form  or  a?iotker,  are  being  clearly  recognized  as  a  necessity 
i7i  the  ChristiaJi  church,  and  are  fnding  favor  with  those 
most  experienced  in  them. 

Nearly  twenty  years  ago,  a  prominent  English  pas- 
tor, who  had  been  highly  successful  as  a  preacher  to 
children,  while  admitting  the  lack  of  provision  for  the 


26  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

young  in  ordinary  Sabbath  arrangements,  declared: 
"  Until  the  plan  of  separate  semces  can  be  effectively 
adopted,  that  of  special  services  will  be  the  only  means 
to  remedy  the  defect."  *  The  Rev.  E.  Spooner,  in  his 
admirable  work,  "  Parson  and  People,"  t  describes  his 
successful  attempt  of  a  children's  service.  Together 
with  portions  of  the  prayer-book  service,  "  two  hymns 
are  sung  at  due  intervals,  and  then  a  sermonette, 
illustrated  with  anecdotes  and  even  with  pictures,  fol- 
lows ;  all  is  attention,  the  children  enjoying  thoroughly 
the  service  .  .  .  and  leaving  the  school  with  an  im- 
pression of  having  joined  in  what  they  could  under- 
stand and  of  having  heard  what  they  could  remember." 
Mr.  Spooner  adds  the  testimony  of  others  who  have 
tried  the  experiment  and  become  convinced  of  the 
permanent  value  of  such  services — in  one  instance 
after  a  twelve  years'  trial. 

In  our  own  country,  many  pastors  have  long  held 
occasional  preaching  services  for  the  children  in  the 
sanctuary,  and  many  ecclesiastical  bodies  have  warmly 
commended  the  extension  of  this  practice.  Bishop 
Janes  is  saidj  to  have  remarked,  in  a  Methodist  Epis- 
copal conference,  that  "  the  time  is  coming  when  there 
will  be  two  sermons  preached  to  children  and  youth 
where  there  is  one  to  adults,"  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng 
declares  :  §  "If  every  pastor  would  give  one  sermon  on 
every  Sunday,  especially  addressed  to  the  young,  and 

*  Addresses  to  Children.     Rev.  S.  G.  Greene ;  p.  7. 

t  American  edition,  pp.  138-141. 

JThe  Sunday-School  Index,  p.  208. 

§  Forty  Years'  Experience  in  Sunday-Schools,  p.  210, 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  2/ 

designed  and  prepared  to  teach  them,  he  would  find 
himself  enlarging  his  direct  usefulness  in  this  particu- 
lar work,  and  equally  advancing  the  value  and  benefit 
of  every  other  class  of  his  public  and  private  labors 
in  religious  instruction  also."- 

In  many  of  our  larger  cities  where  there  are  two 
sessions  of  the  Sunday-school,  the  second  is  given  up 
to  general  exercises,  with  addresses  from  the  pastor, 
or  superintendent,  or  other  competent  instructors,  and, 
with  a  part  assigned  to  the  children  in  worship.  There 
are  not  a  few  intelligent  observers  of  the  signs  of  the 
times,  who  believe  that  soon  a  full  Sabbath  service  for 
the  children  will  be  as  common  in  the  Christian  church 
as  the  Sunday-school  is  now,  and  that,  in  conducting 
it,  more  or  less  of  such  exercises  as  are  here  presented 
will  be  found  of  special  value. 

In  view,  then,  of  the  present  necessities  of  the  chil- 
dren, of  their  claims  on  the  church,  of  the  teachings 
of  the  Bible  with  reference  to  them,  of  the  approved 
practices  of  God's  people  in  earlier  days,  and  of  the 
results  of  more  recent  experiment,  it  is  surely  not 
unreasonable  to  expect  that  at  least  one  half-Sabbath, 
in  each  month  shall  be  given,  even  now,  to  such  a 
sanctuary  service  for  the  young  as  is  here  commended 
and  illustrated,  even  though  the  church  is  yet  unpre- 
pared to  accept  the  views  of  those  large-hearted  Christ 
following  leaders  in  its  ministry,  who  see  and  urge  the 
importance  of  providing  services  at  which  the  children 
may  worship  in  God's  house,  and  receive  the  word  of 


28  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

truth  from  the  hps  of  his  ambassador  on  the  return  of 
each  Lord's  day  of  blessing. 

ITS  AVAILABILITY  AND  ATTRACTIVENESS. 

A  pecuHar  advantage  of  this  monthly  recitative 
Bible  service  is  found  in  the  fact  that  it  is  almost 
everywhere  available,  attractive,  and  popular. 

In  many  places,  the  Sunday-school  is  suspended 
during  a  portion  of  the  year — in  cities,  for  the  summer 
months ;  in  the  countr}^,  for  the  winter.  Even  then,  the 
lamentable  gulf  of  intermitted  religious  •  effort  may  be 
spanned  by  the  children's  monthly  meeting.  Without 
commending  Sunday-school  vacations,  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  where  the  children  are  not  taught  God's  word  each 
week,  they  can,  at  all  events,  be  gathered  for  worship 
as  often  as  once  a  month. 

Not  all  churches  have  pastors  ;  nor  do  all  pastors 
feel  that  they  can  preach  acceptably  to  children.  But 
all  have  the  Bible,  and  from  that  the  children  can  ever 
learn  beautiful  and  precious  passages,  to  recite  to  their 
own  profit  and  to  the  good  of  those  who  rightly  hear 
them. 

Even  mission  schools,  as  branches  of  church  schools 
or  as  independent  organizations,  can  have  a  monthly 
Bible  service,  where  impressive  and  effective  lessons 
may  be  added  to  the  usual  Sabbath  teachings,  and 
where  any  lack  in  the  poorer  taught  classes  may  be 
measurably  supplied  by  well  conducted  general  exer- 
cises. 

Rarely  is  any  religious  meeting  better  attended  than 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  29 

one  in  *which  the  children  have  a  share.  They  are 
themselves  glad  to  be  recognized  by  the  church,  and  to 
be  given  a  part  in  worship.  They  can  be  always 
relied  on  for  their  presence  and  aid.  Parents  are 
pleased  to  have  their  children  thus  prominent,  and  to 
witness  their  enjoyment  of  the  service,  and  many  who 
attend  church  at  no  other  time,  will  come  with  the 
little  ones  to  their  monthly  meeting.  It  is  a  matter  of 
fact,  that  in  hundreds  of  country  churches,  a  crowded 
house  on  Sunday-school  concert  afternoon  or  evening, 
attests  the  popularity  of  such  a  meeting  where  only 
thin  congregations  are  found  at  the  ordinary  Sabbath 
services ;  and  many  pastors  particularly  prize  it  for 
the  opportunity  it  gives  them  of  preaching  Christ  to 
the  unevangelized. 


ITS   INFLUENCE   AND  RESULTS. 

Whatever  induces  Bible  study  is  so  far  advantageous. 
However  passive  hearers  may  "  receive  the  word  with 
all  readiness  of  mind,"  those  always  are  "more  noble," 
who,  like  the  Bereans,  "search  the  Scriptures  daily 
whether  these  things  are  so.'"^  To  the  young,  espe- 
cially, God's  "word  is  a  shield  and  buckler."  Every 
additional  lesson  of  Scripture  renders  the  armor  more 
complete  and  secure. 

In  this  service  the  exercises  are  chiefly  biblical. 
Bible  study  is  essential  to  a  share  in  them  ;  and  in 
such  study  the  mind  is  expanded,  for  "  the  entrance  of 

*  Acts  xvii.  II. 


30  .  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

God's  word  giveth  light;  it  giveth  understanding  to 
the  simple."* 

Moreover,  those  who  give  expression  anew  to  what 
they  have  learned,  by  reciting  it  literally  or  re-stating 
its  substance,  'increase  thereby  their  hold  upon  that 
truth,  and  gain  in  mental  grasp  and  reach. 

There  is  a  natural  unwillingness  to  take  an  active 
part  before  others  in  God's  worship,  but  this  very  re- 
pugnance to  "well-doing"  is  what  should  be  over- 
come. The  earlier  in  life  the  effort  is  made,  the  bet- 
ter. Children  manifest  less  of  this  feeling  than  adults. 
They  can  easily  be  led  along  to  take  any  part  assigned 
them,  and  when  rightly  trained  they  are  competent  to 
edify  believers,  and  to  instruct,  rebuke,  and  exhort 
others  in  the  words  of  inspired  wisdom.  Many  a 
father  now  rejoices  in  hope,  who  was  led  to  the  Sun- 
day-school concert  by  the  entreaties  of  his  little  girl, 
and,  remaining  there  from  its  "attractiveness,  at  length 
yielded  his  heart  to  the  Saviour  of  whom  he  was  there 
first  taught. 

And  there  is  no  place  where  the  older  ones  will  be 
more  ready  to  take  a  part  in  worship  than  the  chil- 
dren's meeting.  For  the  children's  sake,  from  the 
influence  of  the  very  atmosphere  of  the  service,  and 
because  the  part  assigned  to  them  is  so  easy  of  per- 
formance, adults,  whose  voices  are  heard  in  no  other 
religious  meeting,  are  often  sharers  in  the  recitations 
of  the  Sunday-school  concert.  In  many  a  New  Eng- 
land community,  almost  the  entire  congregation  will 

*Ps.  cxix.  130. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  3 1 

be  found  on  "  concert  afternoon "  in  the  country 
church,  as  interested  participants  in  the  services,  par- 
ents rising  with  their  children  to  repeat  proof  texts, 
and  even  adult  or  aged  non-professors  sharing  recita- 
tions with  the  youngest  Of  course  the  influence  of 
such  co-operative  Bible  study  will  be  widely  manifest 
for  good.  A  pastor  in  Eastern  Connecticut  declared, 
after  a  few  months'  trial  of  such  a  service,  that  he  was 
surprised  at  the  quickening  it  gave  his  people  in  the 
search  for  truth.  Where  before,  as  he  visited  in  his 
parish,  he  heard  only  of  the  crops,  or  weather,  or 
neighborhood  gossip,  he  now  found  all  wide  awake 
about  the  last  concert  lesson,  or  the  topic  announced 
for  the  next.  He  would  be  asked  what  he  thought  of 
this  passage,  or  where  was  proof  of  that  doctrine,  or 
there  would  be  serious  words  uttered  as  to  the  great 
theme  of  a  recent  service.  Indeed  the  atmosphere  in 
%  which  he  moved  was  so  different  that  he  could  actually 
write  his  sermons  with  half  the  time  and  toilsome 
effort  before  demanded,  and  his  own  love  of  the  Bible 
was  correspondingly  increased, — and  his  experience  is 
by  no  means  solitary. 

In  the  children's  service  has  often  commenced  a 
work  of  grace  resulting  in  many  new-born  souls. 
Eight  hundred  and  twenty  persons,  mostly  young, 
were  received  into  church  communion  during  less  than 
a  year,  from  one  hundred  Sunday-schools  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, from  which  the  author  of  this  book  has  received 
report.  A  watch  of  the  "  conversation "  of  those 
young  believers  furnished  witness  that  those  who  had 


32  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

previously  received  the  most  faithful  Christian  instrue- 
tion  became  the  most  active  and  efficient  workers  in 
God's  vineyard.  And  the  church  which  received  the 
largest  accession  in  a  given  time  was  one  which  de- 
voted the  afternoon  of  every  Lord's  day  to  a  congre- 
gational Bible  school,  including  all  classes  and  ages, 
from  the  infant  to  the  grand  parent. 


HOW   TO    CONDUCT   IT. 

The  idea  of  a  children's  Bible  service  being  ad- 
mitted as  good,  it  is  yet  necessary  that  thaf  idea  be 
properly  carried  out,  else  the  labor  is  lost — and  well  is 
it  if  there  be  no  worse  result.  That  the  Sunday-school 
concert  has  been  often  perverted  and  abused  by  reli- 
ance on  silly  exercises  or  sillier  speakers,*  until  it  was 
little  above  the  "  moral  drama "  in  its  tone  and  tend- 
ency, can  no  more  be  denied  •  than  that  the  pulpit  has  • 
had  some  very  poor  and  some  sadly  heretical  preachers 
in  it,  while  words  of  divine  truth  have  been  wrested 
by  them  "that  are  unlearned  and  unstable"  "unto  their 
own  destruction."  But  it  would  be  surely  unwise  to 
condemn  a  service  for  searching  the  Scriptures,  or  to 
object  to  the  ministry  or  the  Bible,  because  of  abuses 
of-  that  which  God  has  approved.  It  may  be  well, 
however,  to  suggest  a  few  points  as  worthy  of  note  in 
arranging  for  and  conducting  the  children's  service. 

I.  The  Bible  should  be  the  text-book  of  the  service. 
Children  love  variety,  and  are  entitled  to  it.  But  there 
is  ample  material  in  the  Bible  to  gratify  their  proper 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  33 

desire  for  diversity.  That  is  adequate  to  furnish  les- 
sons, "  new  and  old,"  which  edify  while  they  interest, 
and  are  "  profitable "  to  make  "  wise  unto  salvation 
through  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus." 

The  Bible  is  little  enough  studied  at  the  best.  Its 
beauties  are  unfamiliar  to  too  many  who  have  long  had 
it  at  hand.  The  children  need  its  holy  lessons,  and  in 
the  few  public  services  for  their  benefit,  they  are  en- 
titled to  the  privileges  of  its  study  and  recitation. 
Let  them  learn  miscellaneous  selections  for  the  (iay- 
school  or  the  home  circle,  but  in  their  sanctuary  serv- 
ice let  them  rejoice  in  what  God  has  prepared  for  them. 
The  only  excuse  which  charity  can  furnish  for  pastors 
and  superintendents  who  so  often  substitute  other 
lessons  for  the  Bible  in  this  service,  is,  that  they  are 
themselves  ignorant  of  the  adaptiveness  of  Scripture 
to  such  exercises.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the 
widest  experience  has  shown  that  Scripture  recitations 
may  be  made  more  permanently  attractive,  while  far 
more  impressive  and  profitable  to  those  of  all  ages, 
than  the  best  of  miscellaneous  selections. 

Occasionally,  a  Scripture  truth  may  be  easiest  com- 
mitted by  the  infant  class  in  verse,  or  a  stanzas  or  so 
of  a  hymn  may  be  added  in  illustration  of  the  quoted 
text,  but  the  necessity  of  using  other  language  than  the 
Bible  in  the  service  is  rare,  tbr  it  will  be  found  in  the 
end,  as  a  prominent  Bible  student*  has  said,  that 
"  God  knows  best  how  to  write  a  book  for  his  own 
children,"  or  as  a  foremost  Sunday-school  worker  t  has 

*  Rev.  Prof.  Stowe.  t  E.  D.  Jones  of  St.  Louis. 

2* 


34  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

declared,  as  the  result  of  his  experience  among  the 
little  ones :  "  God  never  made  anything  more  attract- 
ive to  the  children  than  the  Bible." 

II.  The  singing  should  be  carefully  looked  to.  It  will 
naturally  have  prominence  in  such  a  service,  and  this 
is  well,  for  it  is  the  choicest  mode  of  praise  on  earth  or 
in  heaven ;  and  "  it  is  good  to  sing  praises  unto  our 
God;  for  it  is  pleasant;  and  praise  is  comely.'"^  Sun- 
day-school music  is  a  recognized  power  in  our  land. 
It  It^s  already  driven  from  our  streets  in  great  measure 
the  vulgar  melodies  which  were  before  so  rife.  It  has 
lightened  many  a  heavy  burden  in  homes  of  poverty 
and  sorrow,  and  has  drawn  multitudes  to  the  house  of 
God,  and  instrumentally  not  a  few  to  the  fold  of  Jesus. 

Sharp  criticisms  have  been  made  with  obvious  pro- 
priety on  particular  hymns  or  tunes,  or  classes  of 
either,  but  none  who  are  fair-minded  and  M^ell-informed 
can  fail  to  commend  this  music  as  a  whole,  as  com- 
paring most  favorably  in  devotional  character  and  in 
Christian  tone  and  taste  with  that  generally  found  in 
collections  for  adults,  or  heard  from  fashionable  choirs. 
But  care  should  be  taken  in  the  selection  of  hymns 
and  tunes  for  the  monthly  meeting.  An  appropri- 
ateness to  the  time  and  the  theme  of  the  service 
should  be  manifest  in  all  that  is  sung.  And  nothing 
should  be  given  out  unless  it  is  likely  to  prove  a  help 
to  the  children  in  their  serv^ice  of  worship,  and  in  their 
gain  of  profitable  impressions  from  the  lessons  of  the 
day. 

*Ps.  cxlvii.  1. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  35 

III.  Great  caution  should  be  observed  as  to  the  speak- 
ers— if  any  are  admitted.  There  are  many  machine- 
la/kers  at  hand  for  such  an  occasion,  ready  and  anxious 
to  exercise  their  gifts.  Some  have  mirth-provoking 
stories  with  which  to  set  the  school  in  a  laugh.  Others 
have  threadbare  anecdotes  and  illustrations,  already 
more  familiar  to  the  children  than  the  most  precious 
portions  of  the  Bible  they  have  assembled  to  study. 
Some  are  serious,  but  prosy,  pointless,  or  long-winded. 
Let  none  of  these  be  called  on.  Allow  no  false  deli- 
cacy to  prevent  the  passing  them  by  if  they  are  pres- 
ent. The  children's  eternal  interests  must  not  be 
trifled  with  nor  needlessly  endangered. 

It  is  better  to  have  no  speaking  than  that  which  is 
profitless,  and  indeed  it  should  rarely  be  a  reliance  or 
made  particularly  prominent.  Bible  recitations  are 
more  satisfactory  to  all  than  most  of  the  talk  at  such 
times.  But  whatever  is  said  should  be  brief,  pointed, 
and  earnest,  with  a  bearing  on  the  theme  of  the  day. 
He  who  is  not  likely  to  speak  thus,  should  n.ot  be 
heard. 

IV.  The  lessons  should  be  distributed  "  without  partial- 
ity'' As  a  rule,  one  scholar  or  class  should  not  occupy 
more  time  in  recitation  than  is  assigned  to  others.  All 
should  be  treated  as  nearly  alike  as  possible,  that 
neither  modesty  be  endangered  on  the  one  hand,  nor 
envy  or  ill-feeling  be  provoked  on  the  other.  Of 
course,  this  caution  does  not  apply  to  the  dividing  of 
a  large  school  into  sections,  for  recitations  at  different 
concerts. 


36  THE  children's  bible  service. 

V.  The  exercises  should  not  partake  of  the  character  of 
an  exhibition.  Tableaux  or  dramatic  representations  of 
any  kind,  should  not  be  tolerated.  No  child  should  be 
lifted  on  to  the  platform  or  led  to  the  front,  to  be 
the  gazing  stock  of  the  congregation.  The  service  is 
rather  one  of  Scripture  recitation  to  the  pastor  or 
superintendent,  who  is  its  leader,  or  of  direct  praise 
to  Jesus,  than  of  addresses  to  a  miscellaneous  audi- 
ence for  their  approval  or  criticism.  It  is  marred  by- 
whatever  calls  particular  attention  to  the  manner  of 
presenting  the  truth,  or  to  the  person  presenting  it ; 
and  the  injury  is  likely  to  be  considerable  to  the 
scholar  who  faces  the  smiles  of  an  admiring  audience, 
or  perhaps  receives  the  murmur  of  gentle  applause, 
and  is  commended  in  the  local  paper  as  having  "  ren- 
dered her  part  admirably,  throwing  into  it  much  heart 
and  feeling,"  or  as  having  "  given  with  much  oratorical 
effect"  his  impressive  "declamation." 

VI.  The  children  should,  as  far  as  practicable,  have  a 
share  in  all  parts  of  the  service.  In  the  singing  they 
will  naturally  be  promin^it.  They  should  join  or  al- 
ternate with  the  leader  in  Bible  reading.  Even  in 
prayer  their  voices  may  properly  be  heard.  Some 
superintendents  pray  in  simple  language,  and  have 
the  children  repeat  after  them  each  clause  as  it  is 
uttered.  In  other  cases,  the  Lord's  prayer  may  be 
used  in  concert  at  the  close  of  extemporaneous  prayer. 

VII.  The  entire  service  should  be  a  unit,  tending  in  all 
its  parts  to  the  enforcing  if  a  single  great  thought. 

Two  hundred  children  may  recite  two  hundred  dis- 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  3/ 

connected  texts  in  such  a  way  as  only  to  confuse  the 
hearers,  and  to  send  them  from  the  service  with  no 
well  defined  idea  of  the  object  of  the  meeting,  or  the 
nature  of  the  truth  presented.  On  the  contrary,  if  the 
Bible  reading,  the  singing,  the' prayers,  the  remarks  of 
each  speaker,  and  all  the  recitations,  have  reference  to 
the  one  theme  of  the  day,  all  present,  from  the  young- 
est to  the  most  mature,  are  likely  to  be  seriously  im- 
pressed by  the  truth  of  that  theme,  and  to  carry  it 
away  in  the  mind,  where,  with  God's  blessing,  it  may 
be  productive  of  that  faith  which  "cometh  by  hear- 
ing.'"* 

The  mind  cannot  grasp  a  legion  of  great  truths  at  a 
single  effort,  and  the  rapid  disconnected  repetition  of 
these  can  hardly  fail  to  perplex,  rather  than  to  benefit, 
even  the  intelligent  and  earnest  seeker.  The  flashing 
in  quick  succession  of  all  the  prismatic  colors  on  a 
printed  page,  is  less  likely  to  clearly  exhibit  its  text, 
than  the  steady  beaming  on  it  of  the  combined  rays, 
through  a  well-cut  lens.  So,  both  children  and  adults 
are  better  taught  by  the  systematic  presentation  of  a 
truth  in  repeated  yet  harmonious  instructions,  than  by 
any  jumble  of  fragmentary  teachings  even  of  Divine 
utterance. 

VIII.  Life  and  pro7nptness  should  be  shown  in  all  the 
exercises.  The  pulse  of  a  child  beats  quickei  than  that 
of  an  adult.  There  is  with  the  child  a  natural  repug- 
nance to  long  metres.  The  time-honored  doxology 
may  be  profitably  learned  and  sung  by  old  and  young, 

*  Rom.  X.  17. 


38  THE  children's  bible  service. 

but  the  fact  remains  that  short  metre,  in  praise  and 
prayer  and  all  devotional  exercises,  is  best  adapted  to 
edify  the  children. 

Nothing  should  drag.  Mere  business  matters  should ' 
not  be  introduced,  lest  they  divert  the  children  from 
the  one  purpose  of  the  meeting.  Readings,  hymns, 
recitations  should  be  prearranged,  that  there  may  be  a 
prompt  passing  from  one  thing  to  another.  It  is  said 
of  a  prominent  Sunday-school  worker  of  Illinois*  that 
he  never  enters  his  desk  as  superintendent  without 
having  every  part  of  his  duty  carefully  planned.  "  He 
knows  just  what  he  is  going  to  do,  and  the  order 
of  doing  it.  His  chapter  is  selected  and  read  and 
prayed  over,  his  hymn  has  also  been  read  over  some 
times,  as  he  remarked,  at  least  twenty  times,  before  he 
feels  that  he  has  entered  into  the  spirit  of  it  and  is  pre- 
pared to  read  it  before  his  school."  t 

One  coming  thus  prepared  by  study  and  prayer,  is 
likely  to  infuse  his  spirit  of  love  for  Christ,  for  the 
truth,  and  for  the  dear  children,  into  all  the  exercises, 
and  the  fire  of  that  divine  love  will  radiate  from  the 
leader  so  as  to  impart  light  and  life  to  all  who  are  in 
the  house,  and  the  entire  service  will  tend  to  the  child- 
ren's welfare  and  their  Saviour's  honor. 


*  Wm.  Reynolds  of  Peoria. 

t  Report  of  Ninth  Conv.  of  111.  S.  S.  Teach.  Assoc. 


PA  RT     II. 


THE     CHILDREN'S    SERVICE 
ITS   APPROPRIATE   EXERCISES. 


EXERCISES   FOR   THE   CHILDREN'S 
SERVICE. 

THE  exercises  of  the  children's  service  cannot  be 
well  conducted  on  any  stereotyped  plan.  To  be 
fresh  they  must  be  often  varied ;  and  this  desirable 
variety  is  not  easily  secured  by  ministers  and  superin- 
tendents without  aid  from  others,  since  it  involves  the 
use  of  more  time  in  preparation  than  they  can  readily 
give  for  such  a  purpose.  Hence,  it  is  proposed  to 
furnish  specimen  exercises,  which  have  proved  on  trial 
attractive  and  profitable,  that  they  may  be  at  the  com- 
mand of  all  workers  for  the  children.  As  preliminary 
to  these,  comments  on  different  portions  of  the  service 
may  not  be  out  of  place. 


OPENING  AND    CLOSING   EXERCISES. 
Attention  should  be  given  to  the  opening  and  closing 
exercises  no  less  than  to  those  which  are  more  promi- 
nent and  central.     No  part  should  be  so  dull  and  un- 
attractive that  the  children  will  long  to  have  it  done 


42  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

with,  to  give  place  to  that  which  alone  is  pleasing. 
They  can  be  taught  to  love  Bible  reading  and  prayer 
as  well  as  the  singing,  if  they  are  wisely  led. 

In  many  Sunday-schools  and  children's  meetings 
the  formal  exercises  at  the  opening  and  close  of  ser- 
vice are  an  attraction  to  both  young  and  old.  This 
may  always  be  the  case,  if  sufficient  attention,  in  a 
right  spirit,  is  given  to  their  preparation,  and  they  are 
.properly  used. 

BIBLE   READING. 

EXPOSITORY  AND    ILLUSTRATIVE   READING. 

If  the  leader  reads  a  portion  of  Scripture  by  him- 
self, let  him  select  a  brief  one,  suited  to  the  children's 
comprehension — one  of  narrative,  command,  or  practi- 
cal exhortation, — and  to  this  let  him  add  (if  any  com- 
ment is  made)  merely  a  few  M^ords  of  explanation  or 
illustration,  to  fasten  attention  to  its  teachings.  To  do 
this  wisely,  requires  previous  careful  study,  and  the 
exercise  of  sound  judgment.  "  Both  written  and  oral 
teaching  are  to  a  large  extent  dependent  on  illustration 
for  any  attractions  which  they  may  possess,"*  yet 
"illustrations  of  divine  truths  are  ....  dangerous  un- 
less well  guarded  so  as  never  to  withdraw  attention 
from  the  Bible."  t 

It  will  be  well  to  study  Groser's  treatise  on  Illustra- 
tive Teaching  as  preliminary  to  this  public  illustration 
of  Scripture,  and   the  annual  volumes  of  The  Biblical 

*  Illustra;ive  Teaching,   W.  H.  Groser,  p.  6. 

t  The  Sabbath- School  Index,  R.  G.  Pardee,  p.  Sj. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  43 

Treasury,  published  by  the  London  Sunday-School 
Union,  and  The  Land  and  the  Book,  by  Rev.  Dr.  W. 
M.  Thomson,  also  Rev.  Dr.  Richard  Newton's  series 
of  sermons  to  children,  will  be  found  of  use  in  supply- 
ing illustrations  of  Scripture  or  desirable  incidents 
and  lessons. 

The  following  are  named  as  examples  of  passages 
suitable  to  be  read  at  the  children's  service : 

Abraham's  Trial  of  Faith.     Gen.  xxii.  1-14. 
The  Blessings  for  Obedience.     Deut.  xxviii   1-14. 
David's  Triumph  over  Goliath.     I.  Sam.  xvii.  3S-50. 
Naaman  and  the  Little  Maid.     11.  Kings  v.  1-14. 
The  Excellence  of  Wisdom.     Prov.  iv.  1-15. 
Exhortation  to  Early  Piety.     Eccl.  xii.  1-14. 
Visit  of  the  Wise  Men  to  Jesus.     Matt.  ii.  1-12. 
The  Crucifixion.     Mark  xv.  15-38. 
Christ's  Resurrection.     Luke  xxiv.  1-15. 
Obedience  and  Courage  Enjoined.     Eph.  vi.  I-13. 
Love  to  God  and  to  Man  a  Duty.     I.  John  iv.  7-21. 
The  Heavenly  Jerusalem.     Rev.  xxi.  10-25. 

The  parables  and  the  miracles  of  Jesus  are  also  par- 
ticularly well  adapted  for  such  reading. 

INTERROGATORY   READING. 

After  reading  the  selection,  the  leader  may  ask  such 
questions,  to  be  answered  by  the  assembly,  as  will 
tend  to  fasten  the  truth  taught  in  the  passage.  In 
doing  this,  he  should  consider  the  principles  laid  down 
in  J.  G.  Fitch's  Art  of  Questioning,  and  by  Rev.  J.  B. 
Draper,  in  his  essays  on  Our  Lessons  and  How  to 
Teach  Them.* 

*  See  S.  S.  World,  July,  1868. 


44  "J^HE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Take,  for  example,  the  following  questions,  given  by 
Draper,  on  Luke  v.  i-ii,  one  for  each  verse  : 

1.  For  what  reason  did  the  people  press  upon  Jesus  ? 

2.  How  were  the  owners  of  the  two  ships  employed  ? 

3.  Whose  ship  did  Jesus  choose  to  enter  ? 

4.  After  his  sermon,  what  command  did  he  give  to  the  fisher- 


men 


5.  What  answer  was  given  by  Peter  ? 

6.  How  did  the  fishermen  succeed  in  their  fishing  ? 

7.  What  did  they  do  with  the  large  quantity  offish  which  they 
caught  ? 

8.  What  effect  did  the  miracle  have  upon  Peter  ? 

9.  And  what  effect  upon  his  companions  ? 

10.  How  did  Jesus  comfort  Peter  ? 

11.  What  did  the  disciples  do  w^hen  they  came  to  land? 

SIMULTANEOUS    READING. 

These  selections,  or  indeed  any  portion  of  the  Bible, 
may  be  read  simultaneously  by  leader  and  assembly ; 
but  to  ensure  in  such  reading,  harmony  and  distinct- 
ness of  utterance,  instead  of  the  confused  jumble  of 
voices  which  is  heard  in  a  room  where  all  read  at  the 
same  time,  but  not  in  concert,  it  is  essential  that  such 
breath-pauses  be  made  at  intervals  in  the  reading,  as 
will  enable  all  to  note  the  measure  given  by  the  leader, 
and  to  keep  together  in  their  utterances.  The  dashes 
in  the  following  selection,  from  I.  Cor.  xiv.  7-9,  will 
indicate  these  desirable  rests,  and  a  few  experiments 
with  a  school,  in  reading  with  and  then  without  them, 
will  convince  all  of  their  value  : 

"And  even  things  —  without  life  —  giving  sound,  —  whether 
pipe  or  harp — except  they  give — a  distinction — in  the  sounds,— 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  45 

how  shall  it  be  known — what  is  piped  or  harped  ? — For  if  the 
trumpet — give  an  uncertain  sound, — who  shall  prepare  himself — 
to  the  battle  ? — So  likewise  ye, — except  ye  utter — by  the  tongue 
— words  easy  to  be  understood, — how  shall  it  be  known — what 
is  spoken  ? " 

RESPONSIVE  ■  READING. 

Responsive  or  alternate  readings  are  not  equally 
suited  to  all  portions  of  the  Bible,  especially  by  the 
common  arrangement  of  verses.  Such  a  division  fre- 
quently mars  the  sense,  in  the  transition  from  leader 
to  assembly,  although  in  other  instances  it  is  eminently 
proper. 

The  verses  of  some  chapters  are  naturally  divided 
into  two  parts,  and  can  be  responsively  read  with  good 
effect.  Take,  for  example,  the  tenth  chapter  of  Prov- 
erbs. The  first  half  of  each  verse  may  be  read  by  the 
leader.  The  remainder,  (as  printed  in  italics,)  forms 
the  response  by  the  assembly. 

1  The  proverbs  of  Solomon.      A  wise  son  maketh  a  glad 

father : 
Btit  a  foolish  son  is  the  heaviness  of  his  mother. 

2  Treasures  of  wickedness  profit  nothing  : 
But  righteousness  delivereth  fro7n  death. 

3  The  Lord  will  not  suffer  the  soul  of  the  righteous  to  famish : 
But  he  casteth  away  the  substance  of  the  wicked. 

4  He  becometh  poor  that  dealeth  with  a  slack  hand : 
But  the  hand  of  the  diligent  maketh  rich. 

It  is  a  good  suggestion  of  Mr.  Waldo  Abbott's  * 
that  in  the   alternate  readings  of  Scripture,  the  chil- 

*Our  Sunday- School,  Waldo  Abbott,  p.  54. 


46  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

dren  "be  led   by  the  assistant  [superintendent]  who 
should  stand  at  the  further  end  of  the  room." 


THE   PSALMS    FOR    RESPONSIVE    READING. 

The  Psalms  are  peculiarly  suited  to  responsive  use 
in  public  worship.  Indeed  it  was  for  just  this  that 
they  we're  obviously  designed.  "  They  are  all  poetical, 
not  merely  imaginative  and  expressive  of  feeling,  but 
stamped  externally  with  that  peculiar  character  of 
parallelism,  which  distinguishes  the  higher  st}de  of 
Hebrew  comjDOsition  from  ordinary  prose.  .  .  .  They 
are  all  ecclesiastical  lyrics,  psalms  or  hymns,  intended 
to  be  permanently  used  in  public  worship."*  "In  all, 
or  nearly  all  of  them,"  says  one,  in  commending  an 
admirable  version  of  the  Psalms  arranged  according 
to  the  original  parallelisms,t  "  the  two  parts,  lead  and 
?'esj>07ise,  are  clearly  traceable  throughout.  Thought 
answers  to  thought,  emotion  to  emotion,  and  the  re- 
sponsive utterance  by  leader  and  people  develops  the 
beauty  and  power  of  their  inspired  words  in  a  much 
higher  degree  than  can  be  realized  by  the  ordinary 
mode  of  reading  by  alternate  verses." 

In  illustration  of  this,  take  the  sixty-seventh  Psalm. 
The  lead  is  printed  in  Roman  letters,  and  tlie  response 
in  italics : 

I  God  be  merciful  unto  us  and  bless  us ; 
And  cause  his  face  to  shine  upon  us. 

♦Alexander  on  the  Psalms. 

t  The  Book  of  Psalms  arranged  according  to  the  Original  Parallelisms  for 
Responsive  Reading.     Mason  Brothers,  New  York. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  47 

2  That-thy  way  may  be  known  upon  earth, 
Thy  saving  health  among  all  natioits, 

3  Let  the  people  praise  thee,  O  God ; 
Let  all  the  people  praise  thee. 

4  O  let  the  nations  be  glad  and  sing  for  joy : 
For  thoii  shall  judge  the  people  righteously ^ 
And  govern  the  nations  tipon  earth. 

5  Let  the  people  praise  thee,  O  God : 

Let  all  the  people  praise  thee.  \ 

6  Then  shall  the  earth  yield  her  increase  ; 
And  God,  even  our  owji  God,  shall  bless  us. 

7  God  shall  bless  us  ; 

And  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  fear  him. 

In  many  of  the  Psalms,  the  two  parts,  {lead  and 
response^  are  so  readily  distinguished,  that  the  assem- 
bly can  read  the  response  from  the  common  version 
when  the  leader  has  read  the  lead.  For  example,  the 
leads  being  given  in  a  portion  of  the  one  hundred 
and  nineteenth  Psalm,  the  responses  can  be  readily 
supplied ; 

9  Wherewithal  shall  a  young  man  cleanse  his  way  ? 

10  With  my  whole  heart  have  I  sought  thee  : 

1 1  Thy  word  have  I  hid  in  mine  heart, 

12  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord  : 

13  With  my  lips  have  I  declared  all  the  judgment  of  thy 

mouth. 

15  I  will  meditate  in  thy  precepts, 

16  I  will  delight  myself  in  thy  statutes. 

ELLIPTICAL    READING. 

By  the  elliptical  method  of  reading,  any  portion  of 
Scripture  can   be  properly  read   in  alternation,  and 


48  THE  children's  bible  service. 

rarely  can  narrative  be  read  alternately  in  any  other 
way  without  injuiy  to  the  sense  in  the  transition. 

The  assembly  must  be  charged  not  to  begin  until 
the  leader  stops ;  but  then  to  read  until  the  next 
period.  It  is  understood  that  when  the  leader  reads 
a  whole  verse,  the  next  verse  is  to  be  read  by  the 
assembly.  In  example,  take  the  parable  of  the 
prodigal  son,  Luke  xv.  11-24.  The  ellipses  are  to 
be  supplied  by  the  assembly,  the  leader  reading  as 
follows : 

11  And  he  said, 

12  And  the  younger  of  them  said  to  his  father, 

13  And  not   many  days  after,  the  younger   son  gathered  all 

together,  and  took  his  journey  into  a  far  country, 

14  And  when  he  had  spent  all  there  arose  a  mighty  famine 

in  that  land  ; 

15  And   he   went   and  joined   himself  to   a   citizen    of  that 

country  ; 

16  And   he   would  fain  have  filled  his  belly  with  the  husks 

that  the  swine  did  eat : 

17  And  when  he  came  to  himself  he  said, 

20  And  he  arose  and  came  to  his  father.  But  when  he  was 
yet  a  great  way  off,  his  father  saw  him  and  had  com- 
passion, and  ran,  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  kissed 
him.     And  the  son  said  unto  him, 

22  But  the  father  said  to  his  servants, 

SINGING. 

Concerning  the  singing,  the  suggestions  made  by 
Philip  Phillips,  in  his  Singing  Pilgrim,  may  well  be 
considered  by  those  who  lead  in  this  exercise  at  the 
children's  service.  In  explanation  of  the  points  named 
in  his  book,  Mr.  Phillips  remarked  at  one  of  the  great 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  49 

conventions  of  Sunday-school  workers  :*  "If  the  les- 
son of  the  day  [or  the  topic  of  the  service]  is  about 
faith,  sing  a  hymn  of  faith;   if  about  Jesus,  sing  of 

Jesus To  interest  scholars  in   the  hymn,   see 

that  all  always  engage  in  singing  it.  Give  them  before 
they  commence  a  clear  idea  of  what  they  are  about  to 
sing.  Let  the  superintendent,  in  a  word  or  two,  refer 
to  the  sentiment  of  the  hymn.  Then  we  may  expect 
to  have  singing  with  the  spirit  and  with  the  under- 
standing also The  great  power  of  adaptation 

may  be  wonderfully  applied  in  our  singing.  Sing  not 
according  to  a  plan  laid  out  and  stereotyped  a  week 
ahead.  Suit  your  selections  to  the  feeling  that  exists 
at  the  time." 

Amid  the  variety  of  hymn  and  music-books  for  the 
children,  many  Sunday-schools  are  now  having  the 
hymns  they  prefer,  printed  in  large  type  on  muslin 
sheets,  or  on  the  Norwich  Song  Roll,  t  to  be  sus- 
pended in  sight  of  all  in  the  room.  This  plan  is  of 
especial  value  in  the  children's  service,  where  all  the 
exercises  are  general,  and  where  it  is  so  desirable  to 
secure  harmony,  and  unity  of  purpose,  for  there  is  a 
gain  in  having  the  children's  eyes  all  fastened  on  the 
same  point,  or  all  looking  towards  the  leader. 

PRAYER.      •  ' 

"  As  to  the  prayer,  a  volume  of  directions  might  be 
given,  and  after  all  the  good  sense  and  discretion  of 


*  Ninth  Illinois  Conventiou. 

t  Manufactured  by  H.  V.  Edmonds,  Norwich,  Conn. 
3 


50  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

the  superintendent  must  be  the  main  director}^,"  is  ihe 
statement  of  the  Teacher  Taught,*  concerning  the 
opening  exercises  of  the  Sunday-school — and  the  re- 
marks are  equally  applicable  to  the  children's  service. 
But  the  suggestions  made  on  this  subject  which  follow 
that  statement  in  the  volume  referred  to,  can  hardly 
fail  to  profit  one  who  is  to  lead  children  in  their 
devotions. 

"Let  not  the  prayer  degenerate  into  a  sermon," 
says  a  valued  Sunday-school  writer, f  "for  when  we 
are  asking  blessings  from  God,  we  ought  not,  with  the 
same  breath,  to  be  directing  the  scholars.  Let  figura- 
tive language  be  avoided,  as  children  form  the  strang- 
est conceptions  from  many  ordinary  phrases.  The 
language  can  hardly  be  too  simjDle,  or  the  prayer  too 
short." 

The  same  writer  makes  this  further  suggestion,  as 
to  prayer  for  the  children,  to  follow  a  brief  prayer  for 
the  teachers  and  other  adults  :  "  Let  the  superintend- 
ent offer  a  prayer  with  the  children,  as  follows:  'O 
Lord  God,  thou  art  very  great  and  good' — then  chil- 
dren repeat.  '  We  thank  thee  fo-r  giving  us  food  to  eat 
and  clothes  to  wear  ' —  children  repeat.  '  Take  us 
under  thy  kind  care  this  Sabbath  day' — children  re- 
peat, and  so  on  to  the  end.  There  can  be  no  objection 
to  this  prayer  being  a  suitable  form  if  preferred;  it 
either  may  or  may  not  conclude  with  the  Lord's 
prayer." 

*  By  F.  A.  Packard,  Am.  S.  S.  Union, 
t  Louisa  Davids  in  The  Sunday-school. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  5 1 

One  of  the  most  successful  workers*  among  the 
children  in  our  country,  always  leads  the  children  thus 
in  prayer  in  his  Sunday-school,  or  in  other  services 
which  he  conducts  for  them.  The  following  report  f 
was  made  of  his  prayer  with  an  infant  class,  which  he 
taught  by  way  of  illustration  at  a  Sunday-school  con- 
vention in  Washington,  D.  C. 

After  singing  with  the  children  one  verse  of  the 
hymn, 

"Jesus  loves  me,  this  I  know," 

he  said :  "  Now  let  us  pray  to  this  Saviour  who  loves 
us  so  much.  You  repeat  after  me.  —  [The  children 
bowed  their  heads  and  prayed.] 

"  Dear  Saviour, — we  do  thank  thee — for  coming  so  far — to  save 
us. — We  remember — how  thou  wast  a  little  boy — in  Bethlehem's 
manger  ; — how  thou  didst  go  about — doing  good  ; — without  any- 
home  ; — men  ill-treating  thee  ; — until  at  last,  after  thirty-three 
years — thou  didst  die  for  me — on  Calvary. — O  Saviour  ! — help 
me — to  call  thee — my  Saviour, — and  to  love  thee — like  thy  little 
child. — May  I  show  my  love  to  thee, — by  trying  to  keep — all  thy 
commandments  ; — by  being  very  kind  to  everybody  ; — by  keep- 
ing the  Sabbath-day, — by  not  saying  bad  words, — by  helping -my 
father  and  mother. — From  a  good  distance  off — a  stranger  has 
come — to  tell  us  about  thee. — Dear  Saviour  !  help  the  stranger- 
man  ; — give  him  a  word  to  speak, — give  me  a  heart  to  listen  ; — 
and  bless  all  that  I  love, — make  them  all  thy  children, — and  in  a 
little  while — may  we  meet  thee  in  heaven — for  Jesus'  sake. 
Amen." 

"Perhaps  you  think  you  cannot  pray  thus,"  says 
another  intelligent  friend  of  the   Sunday-school,$  in 

*  Ralph  Wells.  t  Sunday-school  Times,  Jan.  4.  1868. 

X  R.  G.  Pardee  in  The  Sunday-school  Times. 


52  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

comment  on  this  style  of  prayer,  "  but  you  can  learn — 
you  can  learn.  Think  what  specific  things  you  wish 
to  thank  God  for,  what  to  ask  of  Him,  and  your  prayers 
will  change  for  the  better.  The  children  love  such 
prayer,  delight  in  it,  think  they  are  worth  praying  for, 
and  learn  to  pray,  and  the  children  ought  to  be  taught 
thus  to  pray." 

"  During  the  time  of  prayer,"  suggests  a  valued  Eng- 
lish writer,  "let  the  scholars  clasp  their  hands  in  front, 
and  let  them  close  their  eyes  ;  if  these  members  of  the 
body  are  thus  secured  ....  much  disorder  will  be 
prevented."*  At  all  events,  "they  should  have  some 
uniform  position.  If  old  enough,  let  them  incline  their 
heads  forward.  If  not,  let  them  stand."  f  This  is  in 
schools  where  kneeling  is  not  the  habit. 

"A  few  moments' silent  and  thoughtful  secret  prayer 
by  the  teachers  and  children  as  they  come  to  their 
places,  is  a  blessed  opening,"  says  Dr.  Tyng,  t  "  and  a 
most  encouraging  sight.  It  seems  to  say  in  its  ex- 
pressive form  of  utterance,  '  we  are  all  here  ready  be- 
fore the  Lord,  to  hear  all  things  that  are  commanded 
of  Him.'  It  inspires  hopeful  anticipations.  The  Lord 
the  Si^irit  seems  to  be  in  the  place,  and  the  work  of 
the  day  begins  with  the  dew  upon  the  grass." 

VERSIONS     OF    THE     LORD's     PRAYER. 

There  is  a  growing  readiness,  even  among  those 
who  are  least  inclined  to  liturgical  services,  to  use  fre 

*  The  Teachers'  Companion,  R.  N.  Collins,  p.  91. 

t  Our  Sunday-school,  W.  Abbott,  p.  55. 

t  Forty  Years  Experience  in  Sunday-school,  p.   108. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  53 

quently  in  public  worshijD  the  sublime  form  of  prayer 
commended  by  our  blessed  Lord.  And  surely  this  is 
well.  "  Its  jDetitions  are  so  simple  and  direct,  that  chil- 
dren of  very  tender  age  understand  and  appreciate  them, 
yet  so  comprehensive  and  far-reaching,  in  the  generaliza- 
tions which  evidently  underlie  them,  that  the  profound- 
est  theologians  have  failed  to  exhaust  their  meaning."* 

When  employed  in  the  children's  service,  care  should 
be  taken  as  to  the  form  followed.  To  prevent  confu- 
sion, either  the  form  given  in  Matt.  vi.  9-13,  according 
to  our  common  English  version,  or  that  prescribed  in 
the  prayer-book  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  should  be 
adhered  to.  Some  are  strenuous  as  to  the  use  of  one 
of  these,  while  many  prefer  the  other.  In  favor  of  the 
one,  it  is  said  that  it  is  the  more  accurate  scriptural 
version.  For  the  other  is  claimed  the  merit  of  wide 
use  in  the  Episcopal,  Methodist,  Hugenot,  and  other 
churches  with  established  liturgies.  Certainly,  either 
formula  is  admissible,  unless  with  high  ritualists  who 
would  forbid  any  departure  in  prayer  from  the  phrase- 
ology of  the  prayer-book  or  of  a  particular  translation 
of  the  Scriptures. 

The  two  forms  are  appended,  and  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  third  word,  used  as  "  who"  or  "  which,"  will 
indicate  the  form  adopted  by  the.  leader,  and  thus 
enable  the  assembly  to  follow,  "  nothing  doubting  " : 

(From  Matt.  vi.  9-13.) 
Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven, 
Hallowed  be  thy  name. 

*  The  Golden  Censer,  John  S.  Hart,  p.  5. 


54  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Thy  kingdom  come. 

Thy  will  be  done  in  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven. 

Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread. 

And  forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive  our  debtors. 

And  lead  us  not  into  temptation, 

But  deliver  us  from  evil : 

For  thine  is  the  kingdom, 

And  the  power,  and  the  glory,  forever.     Amen. 

(From  the  Praj'er-Book.) 
Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven, 
Hallowed  be  thy  name. 
Thy  kingdom  come. 

Thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven. 
Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread. 
And  forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive  those  who 

trespass  against  us  ; 
And  lead  us  not  into  temptation  ; 
But  deliver  us  from  evil : 
For  thine  is  the  kingdom, 
And  the  power,  and  the  glory,  forever  and  ever.     Amen. 


SPECIMEN   FORMS 

OF     OPENING    AND     CLOSING    EXERCISES. 

A  few  specimen  schedules  of  opening  and  closing 
exercises  for  a  children's  service  are  given  herewith, 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  inexperienced  in  their 
preparation,  and  as  suggestive  of  other  forms  in  great 
variety. 

The  first  two  are  arranged  from  the  plans  of  the 
Sunday-school  of  the  Second  Congregational  Church, 
New  London,  Ct,  which  are  prepared  annually  by  the 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  55 

superintendent,    Henry    P.    Haven,    and    printed    on 
sheets  for  distribution  in  the  school : 

SCHEDULE    I. 
At  the  tap  of  the  bell,  all  bow  their  heads  in  silent 
prayer.     At  a  second  tap,  the  assembly  rises.      The 
leader  says : 

Gather  the  people  together,  men  and  women,  and  children, 
and  the  stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates,  that  they  may  hear,  • 
and  that  they  may  learn,  and  fear  the  Lord  your  God,  and  ob- 
serve to  do  all  the  words  of  this  law.     Deut.  xxxi.  12. 

In  concert,  all  repeat : 

Hear,  O  Israel !     The  Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord. 

And  thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God,  with  all  thine  heart, 
and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  might. 

Thou  shalt  fear  the  Lord  thy  God  and  serve  him.  Deut. 
vi.  4,  5>  13- 

The  superintendent  says : 

Ye  shall  diligently  keep  the  commandments  of  the  Lord  your 
God,  and  his  testimonies,  and  his  statutes,  which  he  hath  com- 
manded thee. 

And  thou  shalt  do  that  which  is  right  and  good  in  the  sight  of 
the  Lord,  that  it  may  be  well  with  thee.     Deut.  vi.  17,  18. 

The  assembly  responds : 

And  the  Lord  commanded  us  to  do  all  these  statutes,  to  fear 
the  Lord  our  God,  for  our  good  always,  that  he  might  preserve 
us  alive,  as  it  is  at  this  day. 

And  it  shall  be  our  righteousness,  if  we  observe  to  do  all 
these  commandments  before  the  Lord  our  God,  as  he  hath  com- 
manded us.     Deut.  vi.  24,  25. 


56  THE  children's  bible  service. 

The  assembly  chants : 

O  sing  unto  the  Lord  a  |  nev/ —  [  song ; 

Sing  unto  the  |  Lord —  |  all  the  j  earth; 
Sing  unto  the  Lord  ;  j  bless  his    j  name ; 

Show  forth  his  sal  |  vation,  from  ]  day  to  |  day, 
Declare  his  glory  a  |  mong  the  |  heathen  : 

His  wonders  a  |  mong  |  all  |  people. 
For  the  Lord  is  great  and  greatly  |  to  be  |  praised  ; 

He  is  to  be  |  feared  a  |  bove  all  |  gods.  • 

O  worship  the  Lord  in  the  |  beauty  of  1  holiness  ; 

Fear  be  |  fore  him,  |  all  the  |  earth. 

The  assembly  being  seated,  the  leader  reads  a  se- 
lection from  the  New  Testament,  having  reference  to 
the  topic  of  the  day. 

All  rising,  an  appropriate  Psalm  is  read  responsively 
by  leader  and  assembly. 

In  concert,  all  repeat : 

Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who 
hath  blessed  us  with  all  spiritual  blessings  in  heavenly  places  in 
Christ.     Eph.  i.  3. 

The  assembly  being  seated,  a  hymn  is  sung. 

All  being  in  a  position  for  prayer  [kneeling,  bowing 
forward  the  head,  standing,  or  sitting  with  the  eyes 
covered  by  the  hand,  as  may  be  the  practice,]  prayer 
is  offered  by  the  leader,  closing  with  the  Lord's  prayer, 
in  which  all  unite. 

The  school  rises.     The  leader  says : 

So  they  read  the  book  of  the  law  of  God  distinctly  and  gave 
the  sense,  and  caused  them  to  understand  the  reading.     Neh. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  5/ 

Passages  appropriate  to  the  theme  of  the  day  are 
read  responsively  by  the  assembly,  in  divisions. 
The  assembly  being  seated,  a  hymn  is  sung.' 
Rising,  all  recite,  in  concert,  this  statement  of  Chris- 
tian doctrines,  in  the  language  of  Scripture  : 

ALL   MEN   ARE   SINNERS. 

For  there  is  not  a  just  man  upon  earth  that  doeth  good,  and 
sitineth  not.     Eccl.  vii.  20. 

Wherefore  as  by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the  world,  and 
death  by  sin ;  and  so  death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all 
have  sinned.     Rom.  v.  12. 

ALL   MUST   BE   CONVERTED. 

Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
thee,  except  a  man  be  born  again  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God.     John  iii.  3. 

Not  by  works  of  righteousness  which  we  have  done,  but 
according  to  his  mercy  he  saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  regenera- 
tion, and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Titus  iii.  5. 

JESUS   THE   ONLY   SAVIOUR. 

This  is  a  faithful  saying  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that 
Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.     I.  Tim.  i.  15. 

Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other,  for  there  is  none 
other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men,  whereby  we  must  be 
saved.     Acts  iv.  12. 

FINAL   DESTINY   OF   THE   RIGHTEOUS   AND   THE   WICKED. 

The  hour  is  coming,  in  the  which  all  that  are  in  the  graves 
shall  hear  his  voice.  And  shall  come  forth,  they  that  have  done 
good  to  the  resurrection  of  life,  and  they  that  have  done  evil  to 
the  resurrection  of  damnation.     John  v.  28,  29. 

These   shall  go  away  into   everlasting   punishment,  but   the 
righteous  into  life  eternal.     Matt.  xxv.  46. 
3* 


58  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE: 

For  the  foregoing  statement,  the  apostles'  creed  may 
be  substituted,  if  preferred. 

The  general  exercises  for  the  day  follow  this  opening 
service. 

At  their  close,  the  assembly  rises,  as  at  the  opening, 
at  the  tap  of  the  bell. 

The  leader  says : 

This  book  of  the  law  shall  not  depart  out  of  thy  mouth ;  but 
thou  shalt  meditate  therein  day  and  night,  that  thou  mayest  ob- 
serve to  do  according  to  all  that  is  written  therein  :  for  then  thou 
shalt  make  thy  way  prosperous,  and  then  thou  shalt  have  good 
success.     Josh.  i.  8. 

The  assembly  responds : 

All  Scripture  is  given  by  mspiration  of  God,  and  is  profitable 
for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in  right- 
eousness :  that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  fur- 
nished unto  all  good  works.     II.  Tim.  iii.  16,  17. 

A  hymn  is  sung,  followed  by  the  doxolog)^  to  close 
the  service. 

SCHEDULE    II. 
Rising  at  the  tap  of  the  bell,  all  recite  in  concert : 

This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord  hath  made  ; 

We  will  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  it.     Ps.  cxviii.  24. 

Hear  my  prayer  O  Lord  ! 

Give  ear  to  my  supplications  :     Ps.  cxliii.  i. 

Unto  thee,  O  Lord,  do  I  lift  up  my'soul  ! 

O  my  God,  I  trust  in  thee.     Ps.  xxv.  i,  2. 

Show  me  thy  ways,  O  Lord  ; 

Teach  me  thy  paths.     Ps.  xxv.  4. 

For  thou  art  the  God  of  my  salvation  ; 

On  thee  do  I  wait  all  the  day.     Ps.  xxv.  5. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  59 

Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thine  heart ; 
And  lean  not  unto  thine  own  understanding. 
In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him, 
And  he  shall  direct  thy  paths.     Prov.  iii.  5,  6. 

This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that 
Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.     I.  Tim.  i.  15. 

Still  standing,  the  assembly  chants  : 

I  will  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  hills, 

From  whence  |  cometh  ..  my  |  help. 
My  help  cometh  fronl  the  Lord, 

Which  made  |  heaven ..  and  |  earth.  ^ 

He  will  not  suffer  thy  foot  to  be  moved  : 

He  that  keepeth  thee  |  will  not  |  slumber. 
Behold,  he  that  keepeth  Israel 

Shall  not  |  slumber  ..  nor  |  sleep. 
The  Lord  shall  preserve  thee  from  all  evil : 

He  shall  pre-  |  serve  thy  |  soul. 
The  Lord  shall  preserve  thy  going  out,  and  thy  coming  in, 

From  this  time  forth,  and  even  forevermore.  |  A-  |  men. 

The    assembly   being   seated,    selections   from    the 
Scriptures,  appropriate  to  the  topic  of  the  day,  are 
read  by  the  leader. 
A  hymn  is  sung. 

All  rising,  selections  from  the  twenty-seventh  Psalm, 
as  follows,  are  read  responsively  by  leader  and  assem- 
bly: 

The  Lord  is  my  light  and  my  salvation  ; 

Whom  shall  I  fear  ? 

The  Lordis  the  strength  of  my  life  ; 

Of  whom  shall  I  be  afraid  ? 

One  thing  have  I  desired  of  the  Lord, 

That  will  I  seek  after  ; 


60  THE    CHILDREN  S   BIBLE    SERVICE. 

That  I  may  divell  hi  the  house  of  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  my  life. 

To  behold  the  beauty  of  the  Lord, 

And  to  inquire  in  his  temple. 

For  in  the  time  of  trouble  he  shall  hide  me  in  his  pavilion  ; 

In  the  secret  of  his  tabernacle  shall  he  hide  me ; 

He  shall  set  me  up  upon  a  rock. 

Therefore  will  I  offer  in  his  tabernacle  sacrifices  of  joy  ; 

I  will  sing,  yea,  I  will  sing  praises  tinto  the  Lord. 

Hear,  O  Lord,  when  I  cry  with  my  voice ; 

Have  mercy  also  tipon  me,  and  afiswer  me. 

When  thou  saidst,  Seek  ye  my  face  ; 

My  heart  said  unto  thee,  Thy  face.  Lord,  will  L  seek, 

Thou  hast  been  my  help  ;  leave  me  not. 

Neither  forsake  me,  O  God  of  my  salvatiojt  ! 

Teach  me  thy  way,  O  Lord  ! 

And  lead  me  in  a  plain  path,  because  of  mine  enemies. 

I  had  fainted  unless  L  had  believed  to  see  the  goodness  of  the  Lord 

In  the  land  of  the  living. 

Wait  on  the  Lord  ! 

Be  of  good  courage,  and  he  shall  strengthen  thine  heart  j 

Wait  I  say  on  the  Lord  ! 

In  concert,  all  say  : 

The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us  ;  let  him  not  leave  us  nor  for- 
sake us ;  that  he  may  incline  our  hearts  unto  him,  to  walk  in  all 
his  ways  and  to  keep  his  commandments.     I.  Kings  viii.  57,  58. 

The  assembly  being  seated,  a  hymn  is  sung. 

Prayer  is  offered^  closing  with  the  Lord's  prayer,  in 
which  all  unite. 

All  rising,  the  following  selections  are  read,  in  alter- 
'  nation  by  leader  and  assembly,  from  the  teachings  of 
Christ  in  the  sermon  on  the  mount : 

Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus.     Actsxx.  35. 

Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit :  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.     Matt.  v.  3. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  6 1 

Blessed  are  they  zuhich  do  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness : 
for  they  shall  be  filled. — Matt.  v.  6. 

Blessed  are  the  merciful :  for  they  shall  obtain  mercy.  Matt. 
V.  7. 

Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart :  for  they  shall  see  Gody     Matt.  v.  8. 

■  Blessed  are  the  peace-makers  :  for  they  shall  be  called  the 
children  of  God.     Matt.  v.  9. 

Blessed  are  they  which  are persectited for  righteousness'  sake:  for 
theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.     Matt.  v.  10. 

Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your 
good  works  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  Matt. 
V.  16. 

Lo^e  your  enemies,  bless  them  that  curse  you,  do  good  to  them 
that  hate  you,  and  pray  for  them  which  despitefully  ti.se  you,  and 
persecute  you.     Matt.  v.  44. 

When  thou  doest  alms,  let  not  thy  left  hand  know  what  thy 
right  hand  doeth.     Matt.  vi.  3. 

When  thou  prayest,  enter  ijito  thy  closet,  and  when  thou  hast  shut 
thy  door,pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret;  and  tJiy  Father  which 
seeth  in  secret  shall  reward  thee  openly.     Matt.  vi.  6. 

If  ye  forgive  men  their  trespasses,  your  heavenly  Father  will 
also  forgive  you.     Matt.  vi.  14. 

But  if  ye  forgi^Je  not  men  their  trespasses,  neither  will  your 
Father  forgive  your  trespasses.     Matt.  vi.  15. 

Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find ;  knock, 
and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you.     Matt.  vii.  7. 

For  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth  ;  and  he  that  seeketh  findeth  ; 
and  to  him  that  knocketh  it  shall  be  opened.     Matt.  vii.  8. 

Enter  ye  in  at  the  strait  gate  :  for  wide  is  the  gate,  and  broad 
is  the  way,  that  leadeth  to  destruction,  and  many  there  be  which 
go  in  thereat.     Matt.  vii.  13. 

Because  strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way,  which  leadeth 
unto  life,  and  fexv  there  be  that  find  it.     Matt.  vii.  14. 

The  assembly  being  seated,  a  hymn  is  sung. 

The  general  exercises  for  the  day  follow.     At  their 


62  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

close,  the  assembly  rises,  at  the  tap  of  the  bell,  and 
the  ten  commandments  are  recited  in  concert. 
The  leader  says : 

These  are  the  commandments,  which  the  Lord  commanded 
Moses  for  the  children  of  Israel  in  Mount  Sinai.     Lev.  xxvii.  34. 

In  concert,  all  recite  : 

1.  Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me. 

2.  Thou  shalt  not  make  unto  thee  any  graven  image,  or  any 
likeness  of  any  thing  that  is  in  heaven  above,  or  that  is  in  the 
earth  beneath,  or  that  is  in  the  water  under  the  earth  :  thou  shalt 
not  bow  down  thyself  to  them,  nor  serve  them  :  for  I  the  Lord 
thy  God  am  a  jealous  God,  visiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers 
upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation  of  them 
that  hate  me ;  and  showing  mercy  unto  thousands  of  them  that 
love  me,  and  keep  my  commandments. 

3.  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain; 
for  the  Lord  will  not  hold  him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name  in 
vain. 

4.  Remember  the  Sabbath-day,  to  keep  it  holy.  Six  days 
shalt  thou  labor,  and  do  all  thy  work  :  but  the  seventh  day  is 
the  Sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God :  in  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any 
work,  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter,  thy  man-servant,  nor 
thy  maid-servant,  nor  thy  cattle,  nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within 
thy  gates  :  for  in  six  days  the  Lord  made  heaven  and  earth,  the 
sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is,  and  rested  the  seventh  day :  where- 
fore  the  Lord  blessed  the  Sabbath-day,  and  hallowed  it. 

5.  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother  :  that  thy  days  may  be 
long  upon  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee. 

6.  Thou  shalt  not  kill. 

7.  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery. 

8.  Thou  shalt  not  steal. 

9.  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against  thy  neighbor.     . 
10.  Thou   shalt   not   covet   thy   neighbor's   house,  thou  shalt 

not  covet  thy   neighbor's   wife,  nor   his  man-servant,  nor   his 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE..  6$ 

maid-servant,  nor  his  ox,  nor  his  ass,  nor  any  thing  that  is  thy 
neighbor's.     Ex.  xx.  3-17. 

The  leader  says : 

The  sum  of  the  commandments,  as  given  by  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  in  the  gospel  according  to  St.  Mark,  twelfth  chapter, 
twenty-ninth,  thirtieth,  and  thirty-first  verses,  reads  : — 

Assembly  recites  : 

The  first  of  all  the  commandments  is.  Hear,  O  Israel ;  the  Lord 
our  God  is  one  Lord :  And  thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God 
with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind, 
and  with  all  thy  strength  :  this  is  the  first  commandment.  And 
the  second  is  like,  namely  this,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor 
as  thyself. 

The  assembly  being  seated,  a  hymn  is  sung. 
Prayer  is  offered,  followed  by  the  benediction,  if  a 
minister  leads. 

SCHEDULE     HL 

A  third  example  of  opening  and  closing  exercises  is 
adapted  from  the  plans  presented  by  George  Beal,  Jr., 
in  his  Manual  of  the  Second  Congregational  Sabbath- 
school  of  Cohasset,  Mass : 

The  bell  strikes  ^wke  for  the  assembly  to  come  to 
order. 

It  strikes  once  for  the  assembly  to  chant,  as  follows  : 

The  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple,  let  all  the  earth  keep  |  silence 
be-  I  fore  him.  Oh,  worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  |  holi- 
ness ;  fear  be-  |  fore  him  |  all  the  earth. 

The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  them  that  are  of  a  broken  heart ;  and 
saveth  [  such  as  |  be  of  a  |  contrite  |  spirit. 

Oh,  come  let  us  worship  and  bow  down  ;  let  us  kneel  before 
the  I  Lord  our  |  maker.  | 


64  .THE    CHILDREN=S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

For  he  is  our  God,  and  we  are  the- people  of  his  ]  pasture,  [ 
and  the  |  sheep  of  his  |  hand. 

The  bell  strikes  OJice  for  the  assembly  to  assume  a 
proper  position  for  prayer.  While  all  is  quiet,  prayer 
is  offered,  closing  with  the  Lord's  prayer,  in  which  all 
join. 

All  rising,  a  hymn  is  sung. 

After  the  reading  by  the  leader,  (the  assembly  being 
seated,)  of  a  portion  of  Scripture  suited  to  the  theme  of 
the  day,  the  assembly  rises,  and  in  concert  all  recite : 

Great  is  the  Lord,  and  greatly  to  be  praised  ; 

And  his  greatness  is  unsearchable. 

The  Lord  is  righteous  in  all  his  ways, 

i^d  holy  in  all  his  works. 

The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  all  them  that  call  upon  him. 

To  all  that  call  upon  him  in  truth.     Ps.  cxlv.  3,  17,  18. 

Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found  ; 

Call  ye-upon  him  while  he  is  near. 

Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way, 

And  the  unrighteous  man  his  thoughts  : 

And  let  him  return  unto  the  Lord, 

And  he  will  have  mercy  upon  him  ; 

And  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abundantly  pardon.     Is.  Iv.  6,  7. 

The  assembly,  by  divisions,  (as  males  and  females,  or 
from  opposite  sides  of  the  room,)  recites  responsively 
a  portion  of  the  nineteenth  Psalm. 

The  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul : 
The  testimony  of  the  Lord  is  sure,  making  wise  the  simple. 
The  statutes  of  the  Lord  are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart : 
The  comma7idment  of  the  Lord  is  pure,  enlightening  the  eyes. 
The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  clean,  enduring  forever  : 
The  judgments  of  the  Lord  are  trtie  and  righteous  altogether. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  65 

More  to  be  desired  are  they  than  gold ;  yea,  than  much  fine 
gold: 

Sweeter  also  than  honey,  and  the  hojieycomb. 

Moreover  by  them  is  thy  servant  warned  : 

And  in  keeping  of  them  there  is  great  reward. 

Who  can  understand  his  errors  ? 

Cleanse  thou  me  from  secret  faults. 

Keep  back  thy  servant  also  from  presumptuous  sins  ;  let  them 
not  have  dominion  over  me  : 

TheTi  shall  I  be  tcpright,  and  I  shall  he  innocent  from  the  great 
transgression. 

All  in  concert  recite  : 

Let  the  words  of  my  mouth,  and  the  meditation  of  my  heart, 
be  acceptable  in  thy  sight,  O  Lord,  my  strength  and  my  re- 
deemer. 

A  hymn  is  sung. 

General  exercises  follow. 

At  the  conclusion  of  these,  the  bell  strikes  twice,  to 
command  attention.  Notices  are  then  given  out,  or 
announcements  made. 

The  bell  strikes  once,  for  the  assembly  to  arise. 

A  hymn  is  sung. 

Prayer  closes  the  services. 


SCHEDULE  IV. 

In  a  little  work*  prepared  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Richard 
Newton,  of  Philadelphia,  for  the  Sunday-schools  of  his 
church,  are  given  plans  for  opening  and  closing  ser- 
vices, for  each  Sabbath  in  the  month.     One  of  these  is 


^Offices  of  Devotion  for  the  use  of  Sunday  Schools. 


66  THE  children's  bible  service. 

given  herewith,  as  appropriate  to  any  service  for  the 
children. 

Singing. 

Reading  of  Scripture. 

Responsive  Selection. 

wisdom's  counsel. 

Superintendent.  My  son,  forget  not  my  law  :  but  let  thine  heart 
keep  my  commandments.     Prov.  iii.  I. 

Scholars.  For  length  of  days,  and  long  life,  and  peace  shall 
they  add  to  thee.     Prov.  iii.  2. 

Superintendent.  Let  not  mercy  and  truth  forsake  thee  :  bind 
them  about  thy  neck,  write  them  upon  the  table  of  thine  heart. 
Prov-  iii.  3. 

Scholars.  So  shalt  thou  find  favor  and  good  understanding  in 
the  sight  of  God  and  man.     Prov.  iii.  4. 

Superintendent.  Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thine  heart,  and 
lean  not  to  thine  own  understanding.     Prov.  iii.  5. 

Scholars.  In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him,  and  he  shall  di- 
rect thy  paths.     Prov.  iii.  6. 

Superintendent.  Happy  is  the  man  that  findeth  wisdom,  and 
the  man  that  getteth  understanding.     Prov.  iii.  13. 

Scholars.  For  the  merchandise  of  it  is  better  than  the  mer- 
chandise of  silver,  and  the  gain  thereof  than  fine  gold.  Prov. 
iii.  14. 

Superintendent.  She  is  more  precious  than  rubies  ;  and  all 
the  things  thou  canst  desire  are  not  to  be  compared  unto  her. 
Prov.  iii.  15. 

Scholars.  Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand,  and  in  her  left 
hand  riches  and  honor.     Prov.  iii.  17. 

Scholars.  She  is  a  tree  of  life  to  them  that  lay  hold  upon  her, 
and  happy  is  every  one  that  retaineth  her.     Prov.  iii.  18. 

The  superintendent  says  :  Let  us  pray. 

Then  follows  a  prayer  suited  to  the  occasion,  and  to 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  6/ 

the   theme   of  the   service,    closing   with   the    Lord's 
prayer,  in  which  all  join. 

The  superintendent  adds  the  prayer  : 

The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love  of  God,  and 
the  fellowship  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  us  all  evermore. 
Amen. 

After  the  general  exercises,  a  simple  prayer  closes 
the  service. 

Other  forms  of  opening  and  closing  exercises  can  be 
found  in  Dr.  Newton's  Offices  of  Devotion,  and  Mr. 
Beal's  Cohasset  Manual,  already  referred  to,  and  in 
Philip  Phillip's  Singing  Pilgrim,  the  Sunday  School 
Reader,  for  Opening  Service  and  Class  Study,  by  Rev. 
J.  H.  Vincent,  and  The  New  Sunday  School  Manual, 
by  Carlton  &  Porter. 


GENERAL  EXERCISES. 

In  the  general  exercises  of  the  children's  service, 
there  is  room  for  great  variety^  Rules  to  govern  in  their 
arrangement  have  already  been  indicated.  Whatever 
is  now  added  by  way  of  example  may  be  so  modified 
or  altered  in  use,  by  any  minister  or  superintendent, 
as  to  better  adapt  it  to  the  assembly  for  which  it  is 
employed,  and  each  form  here  given  will  be  likely  to 
suggest  a  number  of  similar  ones  on. the  same  general 
plan,  and  thus  the  list  can  be  extended  indefinitely. 

Before  presentmg  any  of  the  more  elaborate  exer- 
cises, it  may  be  well  to  give  some  of  the  simpler 
forms,    employed    by   beginners   or   in    communities 


68  THE  children's  bible  service. 

where,  as  yet,  there  is  a  shrinking  from  whatever  of 
this  character  involves  much  study  or  effort  to  make  it 
ready  for  use.  These  may  also  prove  serviceable  as 
supplementary  to  the  extended  exercises,  or  at  the 
close  of  an  ordinary  Sunday-school  session. 

FORMS  OF  THE  GOLDEN  TEXT. 

A  call  is  made  for  passages  of  Scripture  containing 
a  particular  word,  previously  designated,  or  beginning 
with  a  given  letter  or  phrase,  known  as  the  Golden 
Text. 

Each  person  present  may  recite  such  a  text,  or  in  a 
large  school  one  division  may  recite  at  one  meeting, 
and  anottier  at  the  next. 

The  following  are  examples  of  the  Golden  Text : 

LETTERS. 

Texts  beginning  with  some  letter  of  the  alphabet : 

Examples. — A — Ask  and  it  shall  be  given  you.     Matt.  vii.  7. 
B — Be  of  the  same  mind  one  toward  another.    Rom.  xii.  16. 

Texts  beginning  with  the  letter  that  begins  the 
scholar's  Christian  name  : 

Examples. — William — Wisdom  is  the  principal  thing,  &c., 
Prov.  iv.  7. 

Sarah — Search  the  Scriptures,  &c.     John  v.  39. 

Texts  beginning  with  the  letter  that  begins  the  name 
of  the  month  on  which  the  service  is  observed  : 

ExampLes. — January — Judge  not  that  ye  be  not  judged,  &c. 
Matt.  vii.  I. 

August — A  soft  answer  turneth  away  wrath,  &c.     Prov.  xv.  i. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  69 

WORDS. 

Texts  commencing  with  such  words  as  Blessed, 
Cursed,  Come,  Go,  Praise,  Pray,  Seek,  Trust,  etc.  : 

Exatnples. — Blessed — Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they 
shall  see  God.     Matt.  v.  8. 

Cursed — Cursed  be  he  that  setteth  light  by  his  father  or  his 
mother.     Deut.  xxvii.  16. 

Texts  containing  such  words  as  Faith,  Love,  Grace, 
Wisdom,  Heart,  Life,  Death,  Heaven,  Hell,  etc. : 

Examples. — Faith — Watch  ye,  stand  fast  in  the  faith,  quit  you 
like  men,  be  strong.     I.  Cor.  xvi.  13. 

Love — For  this  is  the  love  of  God,  that  we  keep  his  com- 
mandments.    I.  John  V.  3. 

NAMES. 

Texts  which  contain  the  name  of  any  person  present 
who  has  a  Scripture  name  : 

Examples. — Mary — But  one  thing  is  needful,  and  Mary  hath 
chosen  that  good  part,  &c.     Luke  x.  42, 

Samuel — And  the  child  Samuel  ministered  unto  the  Lord 
before  Eli.     I.  Sam.  iii.  i. 

Texts  which  contain  the  name  of  either  of  the  twelve 
tribes  of  Israel,  of  the  four  evangelists,  of  the  twelve 
apostles,  of  the  mountains,  cities,  or  rivers  of  Pales- 
tine : 

Exajnples, — Benjamin — And  of  Benjamin  he  said.  The  be- 
loved of  the  Lord  shall  dwell  in  safety  by  him ;  and  the  Lord 
shall  cover  him  all  the  day  long.     Deut.  xxxiii.  12. 

Mark — He  came  to  the  house  of  Mary,  the  mother  of  John, 
whose  surname  was  Mark,  where  many  were  gathered  together, 
praying.     Acts  xii.  12. 


70  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Thomas — Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Thomas,  because  thou  hast 
seen  me  thou  hast  believed ;  blessed  are  they  which  have  not 
seen  and  yet  have  believed.     John  xx.  29. 

Mount  of  Olives — And  he  came  out  and  went,  as  he  was 
wont,  to  the  Mount  of  Olives.     Luke  xxii.  39. 

Jerusalem — O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  thou  that  killest  the 
prophets  and  stonest  them  which  are  sent  unto  thee,  &c.  Matt, 
xxiii.  37. 

Jordan — Then  went  out  to  him  Jerusalem,  and  all  Judea,  and 
all  the  region  round  about  Jordan.     Matt.  iii.  5. 

Texts  containing  different  names  or  titles  given  to 
God  the  Father : 

Example. — God  of  hosts — O  Lord  God  of  hosts,  hear  my 
prayer  :  give  ear,  O  God  of  Jacob.     Ps.  Ixxxiv.  8. 

Texts  containing  different  names  or  titles  given  to 
Jesus  Christ : 

Example. — Wonderful — And  his  name  shall  be  called  Won- 
derful, Counsellor,  &c.     Is.  ix.  6. 

Texts  containing  different  names  or  titles  given  to 
the  Holy  Spirit : 

Example. — Comforter — But  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy 
Spirit,  &c.     John  xiv.  26. 

Texts  containing  different  descriptive  names  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  : 

Example. — Lamp — Thy  word  is  a  lamp  unto  my  feet,  and  a 
light  unto  my  path.     Ps.  cxix.  105. 

PHRASES. 
Texts  commencing  with,  And  it  came  to  pass,  Verily, 
verily,  etc. : 

Example. — And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  time  was  come  that 


TH.Ti:    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  7 1 

he  should  be  received  up,  he  steadfastly  set  his  face  to  go  to 
Jerusalem,     Luke  ix.  51. 

Verily,  Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  he  that  receiveth  whomsoever 
I  send  receiveth  me.    John  xiii.  20. 

Texts  containing  I  will,  Thou  shalt,  The  fear  of  the 
Lord,  etc: 

Example. —  Peter  said  unto  him,  Lord,  why  cannot  I  follow 
thee  now  ?    I  will  lay  down  my  life  for  thy  sake.     John  xiii,  37. 

Then  saith  Jesus  unto  him.  Get  thee  hence,  Satan  :  for  it  is 
written.  Thou  shall  worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only 
shalt  thou  serve.     Matt,  iv.  10. 

Come  ye  children,  hearken  unto  me  :  I  will  teach  you  the  fear 
of  the  Lord.     Ps.  xxxiv,  1 1. 


VERSES. 
The  first  or  last  verses  of  the  different  books  of  the 
Bible  : 

Example. — The  first  of  Genesis — In  the  beginning  God  created 
the  heaven  and  the  earth. 

The  last  of  Ilosea — Who  is  wise,  and  he  shall  understand 
these  things  ,''  prudent,  and  he  shall  know  them ,''  &c. 

The  last  verses  of  the  various  psalms : 

Example. — Psalm  xcix,  9. — Exalt  the  Lord  our  God,  and 
worship  at  his  holy  hill ;  for  the  Lord  our  God  is  holy.    , 

The  last  verses  of  the  different  chapters  of  the  gospels : 

Example. — Mark  xiii.  37, — And  what  I  say  unto  you,  I  say 
unto  all.  Watch. 

The  last  verses  of  the  different  chapters  of  the  epistles : 

Example. — I.  Cor,  xiii.  13, — And  now  abideth  faith,  hope, 
charity,  these  three ;  but  the  greatest  of  these  is  charity. 


72  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

ILLUSTRATIVE  AND  PROOF  EXERCISES. 

Besides  the  various  forms  of  the  Golden  Text,  there 
are  in  common  use  at  the  children's  service  many  sim- 
ple modes  of  illustrating  subjects,  bringing  out  history 
or  biography,  or  proving  doctrines  in  Scripture  lan- 
guage: 

TOPICAL. 

Each  person  present  is  requested  to  recite  some 
passage  from  the  Bible  on  the  subject  of  Faith,  Prayer, 
Humility,  Temperance,  The  Sabbath,  Sin,  Charity, 
Death,  Heaven,  The  Judgment,  etc. 

HISTORICAL. 

To  one  class  or  division  is  assigned  the  Bible  history 
of  Jerusalem  before  its  occupancy  by  the  Jews,  to 
another  its  history  before  the  building  of  the  first 
temple,  to  another  its  history  until  the  time  of  the 
captivity,  to  another  its  history  from  the  return  of  the 
Jews  to  the  coming  of  Christ,  to  another  its  history  in 
the  days  of  Jesus  as  the  Son  of  Man,  etc. 

And  thus  of  Hebron,  or  Bethlehem,  or  Shechem,  of 
the  tribes  of  Israel  or  Judah,  of  the  Edomites,  or  of 
the  early  church. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

A  call  is  made  for  the  main  facts  in  the  history  of  a 
patriarch,  as  Abraham ;  a  commander,  as  Gideon ;  a 
matron,  as  Rebecca ;  a  prophet,  as  Daniel ;  a  King,  as 
David ;  an  apostle,  as  Peter,  etc. 


THE    CHILDREN'S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  73 

By  arrangement,  one  person,  or  one  class,  can  recite 
four  or  five  verses  in  this  history,  and  the  next  person 
or  class  can  follow  with  as  many  more,  in  chronologi- 
cal order,  and  thus  through  the  record. 

DOCTRINAL. 

The  request  is  made  for  Scripture  recitations  in 
proof  of  certain  truths  or  doctrines  which  are  stated, 
as,  That  man  is  by  nature  sinful  ;  That  the  finally  im- 
penitent are  hopelessly  lost ;  That  there  is  fulness  of 
salvation  through  faith  in  Christ,  etc.  All  present  may 
have  an  opportunity  of  reciting  the  proof  passages,  to 
bring  out  an  accumulation  of  Bible  testimony  in  de- 
fense of  the  truth.  Sometimes  it  is  requested  that  as 
far  as  possible  there  be  no  repetition  of  texts — that 
each  person  shall  recite  one  not  previously  quoted  by 
another.  This  necessitates  the  memorizing  of  a  num- 
ber of  passages,  and  of  watchfulness  while  others  are 
reciting.  At  the  same  time  it  adds  interest  to  the 
exercise,  and  evidences  the  wonderful  richness  of  the 
treasures  of  God's  Word. 

The  different  clauses  of  the  apostle's  creed  may  be 
thus  re-enforced  by  Scripture,  or  truths  may  be  brought 
out  as  applicable  to  the  special  circumstances  of  the 
times,  or  the  needs  of  the  assembly. 

RESPONSIVE. 

A  question  asked  in  one  text,  may  be  answered  in 
another.  The  leader  can  ask  all  the  questions,  and 
the  members  of  the  assembly  can  answer  them,  or  the 


74  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

teachers  can  put  the  questions,  and  their  scholars  can 
respond.  Or  this  last  order  can  be  reversed,  the 
scholars  questioning  and  the  teachers  replying.  A 
similar  arrangement  may  be  made  between  two  divis- 
ions of  the  school — two  Bible  classes,  or  the  older 
and  younger  classes, — or  between  those  who  are  mem- 
bers of  the  school  and  those  who  are  not. 

Those  who  are  to  projDOund  the  questions,  can  look 
them  out  from  the  Bible  and  give  them,  in  advance  of 
the  meeting,  on  slips  of  paper,  to  those  who  are  to 
answer  them.  The  latter  must  then  search  out  the 
responses,  and  have  ■  them  ready  in  season  for  the  ser- 
vice at  which  they  are  to  be  recited.   - 

EXAMPLE. 

Question — Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  the  Lord?  or 
who  shall  dwell  in  his  holy  place  ?     Ps.  xxiv.  3. 

Answer — He  that  walketh  uprightly,  and  worketh  righteous- 
ness, and  speaketh  the  truth  in  his  heart.     Ps.  xv.  2. 

Questio7i — What  shall  we  do  that  we  might  work  the  works 
of  God  ?    John  vi.  28. 

Answer — This  is  the  work  of  God,  that  ye  believe  on  him 
whom  He  hath  sent.     John  vi.  29. 

Question — If  a  man  die,  shall  he  live  again  ?    Job  xiv.  14. 

Answer — Marvel  not  at  this  :  for  the  hour  is  coming  in  the 
which  all  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear  his  voice,  and  shall 
come  forth ;  they  that  have  done  good  unto  the  resurrection  of 
life  ;  and  they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the  resurrection  of  dam- 
nation.    John  V.  28,  29. 

Question — Shall  we  give,  or  shall  we  not  give  ?     Mark  xii.  15. 

Answer — Every  man  according  as  he  purposeth  in  his  heart, 
so  let  him  give  ;  not  grudgingly,  or  of  necessity ;  for  God  lovetK 
a  cheerful  giver.     II.  Cor.  ix.  7. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  75 

GENERAL  QUESTIONS. 

A  general  question  may  be  given  out  by  the  leader, 
to  be  replied  to,  in  Bible  language  or  otherwise,  by  each 
member  of  the  assembly.     Thus  : 

What  think  ye  of  Christ  ? 
What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ? 
What  is  it  to  live  a  Christian  life  ? 

What  one  text  of  the  Bible  would  you  preserve,  if  all  the  rest 
must  be  destroyed  ? 

Sometimes  a  question  of  practical  importanc^o  all 
is  asked,  to  be  replied  to  in  writing  at  the  next  meet- 
ing, and  these  answers  are  read  by  their  writers  or  by 
the  leader,  and  briefly  commented  on.  Thus  each  one 
i§  requested  to  give  a  reason  for  believing  that  Jesus  is 
his  Saviour,  or  to  state  his  hindrances  to  a  Christian 
life  or  faith. 

REVIEW   EXERCISES. 

The  children's  service  is  often  made  useful  as  a 
monthly  or  quarterly  review  exercise.  The  lessons 
studied  in  the  Sunday-school  from  week  to  week  are 
taken  up  at  the  close  of  the  month,  and  proof  texts  are 
called  for  in  support  of  the  truths  taught. 

In  some  places  it  is  the  practice  for  members 
of  the  congregation  to  recite  consecutively,  at  a  quar- 
terly children's  meeting,  the  texts  of  the  pastor's  ser- 
mons for  the  last  three  months,  thus  bringing  to  mind 
not  only  the  Scripture  passages,  but  the  lessons  of 
their  enforcement  in  the  Sabbath  preaching. 


y6  THE  children's  bible  service. 

In  some  instances  the  pastors  cluster  the  lessons  of 
the  month  in  skillful  grouping,  to  enforce  some  grand 
truth  which  runs  through  them  all,  and  this  they  illus- 
trate in  a  brief  talk  suited  to  the  comprehension  of  the 
children. 

Rev.  W.  E.  Knox,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Rome,  N.  Y.,  has  been  peculiarly  successful  in  a  line 
of  effort  kindred  to  this.  His  school  studies  the  series 
of  Graduated  Sunday-school  Text-books  prepared  by 
his  brother,  Rev.  Charles  E.  Knox.  Different  classes 
haviif^  commenced  the  series  at  different  times,  all 
five  of  the  volumes  are  in  use  at  one  time  in  his  school. 
It  is  his  habit  to  run  over  the  lesson  for  the  day  in  the 
several  books,  to  find  in  each  some  illustration  of  one 
truth  which  he  then  presents  for  consideration.  A^ 
these  lessons  had  no  designed  connection  with  each 
other,  except  chronologically,  it  would  not  seem  easy 
to  discover  in  those  for  every  Sabbath  such  identity  of 
teaching  as  would  make  this  plan  available  ;  but  a 
reference  to  his  note-book  for  these  services  not  only 
shows  his  own  ingenuity  and  sound  wisdom,  but  also 
illustrates  the  unity  and  harmony  of  the  word  of  God, 
and  goes  to  prove  that  "  all  Scripture  is  given  by  in- 
spiration of  God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  re- 
proof, for  correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness." 

A  few  sample  schedules  are  appended,  as  employed 
by  Mr.  Knox,  in  his  service  with  the  children,  showing 
as  they  do  the  ease  with  which  various  Bible  lessons 
may,  at  a  monthly  service  of  review,  be  made  to  im- 
press some  central  and  important  truth. 


THE    CHILDREN'S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  // 

For  one  Sabbath,  the  lessons  to  be  commented  on 
were  as  follows : 

The  call  of  Jesus  to  Peter  and  Andrew      Matt.  iv.  17-22. 

The  struggle  with.  Beelzebub,  in  casting  out  devils.  Luke 
X.  14-26. 

The  harvest  of  souls  pointed  out  by  Jesus.     John  iv.  35-42. 

The  parable  of  the  ten  virgins  at  the  marriage.  Matt.  xxv. 
1-9. 

The  imprisonment  of  Peter  and  John  for  preaching.  Acts 
iv.  1-7. 

The  truth  enforced  was, 

THE   CHRISTIAN    LIFE    ILLUSTRATED. 

Wherein  is  a  Christian's  life  like  fishing.^ 
Wherein  is  a  Christian's  life  like  fighting  ? 
Wherein  is  a  Christian's  life  like  farming  .'' 
Wherein  is  a  Christian's  life  like  marrying.? 
Wherein  is  a  Christian's  life  like  law-breaking  ? 

Another  Sabbath  showed  these  lessons : 

The  coming  of  Jesus  to  the  Mount  to  preach.     Matt.  v. 
The  traveler  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho.     Luke  x. 
The  angel  at  the  pool  of  Bethesda.     John  v. 
The  departing  lord  distributing  the  talents.     Matt.  xxv. 
The  disciples  shown  to  have  been  with  Jesus.     Acts  4. 

The  subject  announced  was, 

THE  TRAVELERS  : 

The  Divine  traveler — What  he  saw. 

The  lonely  traveler — What  he  suffered. 

The  angelic  traveler — Where  he  descended. 

The  princely  traveler — What  he  distributed. 

The  apostolic  travelers — Whom  they  had  been  with. 


yS  THE  children's  bible  service. 

Again,  these  were  the  lessons ; 

Jesus  heals  the  leper.     Matt.  viii.  3. 
Publicans  and  sinners  come  to  hear  Jesus.     Luke  xv.  r. 
The  Jews  wonder  at  the  knowledge  of  Jesus      John  vii.  15, 
The  King  sends  away  the  condemned.     Matt.  xxv.  41. 
The  disciples  preach  with  boldness.     Acts  iv.  31. 

The  truth  presented  was, 

THE   MIGHTY   POWER   OF  JESUS  : 

His  touch  cleanses  the  filthiest. 
His  voice  draws  the  vilest. 
His  knowledge  astonishes  the  wisest. 
His  wrath  dismays  the  stoutest. 
His  grace  emboldens  the  weakest. 

MISSIONARY  EXERCISES. 
The  children's  missionary  meeting  is  often  alternated 
with  their  service  of  general  Bible  exercises.  If  there 
is  a  juvenile  missionary  association  in  the  school  or 
congregation,  the  president  of  that  takes  the  lead  at 
the  missionary  meeting,  as  the  pastor  or  superintend- 
ent does  at  the  ordinary  children's  service.  The 
missionary  meeting  is  held  one  month,  and  the  ser- 
vice with  general  exercises  the  next  Or,  where  the 
children's  service  is  observed  weekly,  the  missionary 
meeting  has  the  first  Sabbath  in  each  month.  The 
hymns  and  passages  of  Scripture  are  then  selected 
with  reference  to  the  missionary  character  of  the  ser- 
vice. Texts  are  called  for  to  illustrate  the  duty  and 
manner  of  giving  to  advance  the  cause  of  Christ,  or  of 
making  personal  endeavor  for  souls.     Or  Bible  inci- 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  79 

dents  are  asked  for,  showing  how  the  early  disciples 
performed  missionary  service,  and  the  results  of  such 
enterprise. 

If  the  school  or  congregation  assists  in  the  support 
of  a  Sunday-school  or  other  missionary,  his  letters  will 
be  read  at  the  missionary  meeting,  and  statements 
may  be  made  by  scholars  or  teachers  designated  for 
the  purpose,  as  to  the  history  or  progress  of  particular 
missions.  And  the  free-will  offerings  of  the  children, 
through  their  class  circles  or  auxiliary  societies,  may 
be  presented  to  the  treasurer,  and  by  him  reported  for 
the  month,  or  more,  included  in  the  returns. 

EXTENDED  TOPICAL  EXERCISES. 
In  addition  to  the  simpler  forms  for  the  exercises  of 
the  children's  service  thus  outlined,  there  are  in  use 
in  many  schools  extended  and  carefully  prepared  Bible 
exercises  on  particular  themes,  arranged  anew  for  each 
month's  service.  These  are  best  explained  in  the 
examples  which  follow.  They  cost  much  time  and 
study  in  their  preparation,  and  they  can  be  used  only 
by  a  special  assignment  to  each  class  or  division  of 
the  school  of  its  particular  portion  in  advance  of  the 
day  of  recitation,  that  the  proper  passages  may  be 
looked  out  and  committed  to  memory  in  season  for 
the  service.  But  the  beauty  and  value  of  these  exer- 
cises far  more  than  repay  all  the  labor  involved  in 
their  arrangement  or  use,  and  none  who  employ  them 
will  be  likely  to  deem  the  simpler  forms  more  desira- 
ble or  attractive,  except  for  beginners  in  such  services. 


80  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

or  as  supplementary,  in  occasional  instances,  to  the  ex- 
tended schedules. 

USE   OF  THE   BLACKBOARD. 

In  connection  with  all  the  exercises  herein  desig> 
nated — both  simple  and  elaborate — the  blackboard 
can  be  made  serviceable.  The  Golden  Text  for  the 
day  may  be  written  on  the  board.  So  may  the  topic 
assigned  for  illustration  or  proof.  An  initial  text  of 
Scripture  on  the  day's  theme,  may  have  a  place  there. 
Or,  the  subject  of  the  exercises  may  be  presented  by  a 
synopsis  on  the  board,  for  explanation  and  comment 
by  the  leader,  when  the  recitations  are  concluded. 
But  let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  "  the  only  justifiablo 
use  of  the  blackboard  in  a  Sabbath-school  is  in  order 
to  make  Bible  truths  more  clear  and  attractive  in  the 
eyes  of  teachers  and  scholars."*  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  neither  in  the  children's  service  nor  in  the  Sunday- 
school  will  any  human  exposition  of  Scripture  truth  be 
made  a  substitute  for  the  Divinely  inspired  Word. 
Bible  texts  memorized  by  the  children  would  be  likely 
to  prove  better  spiritual  food  for  them,  than  would  the 
most  accurate  and  ingenious  other  presentation  of  the 
truth  taught  in  those  texts,  if  there  must  be  a  choice 
between  the  two.  But  the  blackboard  can  be  so  em- 
ployed as  to  aid  in  fastening  the  inspired  phraseology 
in  the  children's  minds,  as  well  as  in  indicating  its 
exposition,  and  thus  it  is  used  by  many  a  superintend- 
ent or  pastor.     By  it,  the  Christian  teacher  is  enabled 

*The  Sabbath  School  Index,  p.  114. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  8 1 

to  fulfill  the  spirit  of  the  command  as  to  the  words  of 
the  law,  which  came  to  Israel;  "and  thou  shalt  bind 
them  for  a  sign  upon  thine  hand,  a»d  they  shall  be  as 
frontlets  between  thine  eyes.  And  thou  shalt  write 
the?n  upon  the  posts  of  thy  house ^  and  on  thy  gates. "  '^ 

CAUTION  AS  TO  SPEECH-MAKING. 

Brief  and  appropriate  addresses  on  the  theme  of  the 
Bible  recitations  for  the  day,  may  properly  follow  any 
of  the  exercises  here  commended.  But  caution  must 
be  observed  on  this  point,  for  speech-making  to  chil- 
dren has  been  sadly  overdone.  The  habit  still  preva- 
lent in  many  places,  of  looking  up  "speakers"  for  the 
Sunday-school  concert,  or  the  monthly  missionary  meet- 
ings, as  though  they  were  to  be  a  chief  reliance  and 
attraction,  is  by  no  means  to  be  approved.  One  aim 
of  this  book  is  to  press  the  superior  advantages  of  fit- 
ting exercises  of  worship,  and  of  Bible-recitations  for 
the  children,  over  miscellaneous  declamations  on  their 
part  or  on  the  part  of  any  of  the  vast  host  of  platform 
story-tellers  whose  services  have  been  in  such  command 
^before  them. 

Addres~5es  and  sermons  to  children  have  their  place, 
and  a  very  important  one  it  is ;  but  that  whole  subject 
is  treated  by  itself  in  a  subsequent  portion  of  this 
volume.  The  Sunday  school  concert  as  a  recitative 
Bible-service,  has  proved  so  valuable  where  best  known, 
that  it  deserves  prominence  as  a  distinct  meeting  of 
the  children  even  where  they  are  preached  to  at  stated 

*  Deut.  vi.  8,  9. 


82  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

seasons.  Perhaps  the  Bible  service  might,  to  advan- 
tage alternate,  month  by  month,  with  the  preaching 
service,  or  the  two  forms  of  service  might  be  judiciously 
combined. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  work  to  portray  a  model 
or  ideal  service  for  universal  use  among  children  in  the 
temple  ;  but  rather  to  show  what  in  this  line  has  been 
approved  in  practice,  and  to  suggest  thoughts  which 
may  be  of  value  to  those  interested  in  arranging,  con- 
ducting and  improving  such  services,  until  the  day 
when  the  best  energies  of  the  church  and  ministry 
shall  be  directed  tiiither. 


PA  RT    III 


SPECIMEN     BIBLE     LESSONS 


THE   CHILDREN'S   SERVICE. 


SPECIMEN  BIBLE  LESSONS 

FOR 

THE  CHILDREN'S  SERVICE. 

THE  lessons  which  follow  were  collected  by  the 
author  of  this  volume  in  a  wide  field  of  obser- 
vation and  experience.  Almost  without  exception,  they 
have  been  already  used  successfully  by  pastors  or  su- 
perintendents in  children's  meetings.  But  little  time 
Mall  now  be  required  to  prepare  them  for  use  in  any 
school  or  congregation.  If  each  teacher  has  a  book, 
the  required  references  may  be  written  therefrom  on 
cards  or  slips  of  paper,  and  distributed  to  the  scholars 
a  week  or  more  previous  to  the  day  of  recitation,  to 
give  sufficient  time  for  the  committal  of  the  texts. 
The  cards  should  be  numbered  to  correspond  with  the 
figures  in  the  book,  that  the  references  may  be  readily 
called  for  in  order. 

If,  in  recitation,  there  should  be  any  failure  of  a 
scholar  to  respond,  the  teacher  should  recite  or  read 
the  required  passage,  that  there  be  no  break  in  the 
chain  of  proofs.  It  will  be  well  also  for  the  leader  to 
repeat  any  passage  not  given  so  as  to  be  clearly  heard. 


S6  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

although  with  a  little  effort  each  scholar  can  be  taught 
to  recite  audibly  and  with  distinctness. 

The  opening  and  closing  exercises  introductory  to 
some  of  the  lessons  w^hich  follow,  may  be  used  appro- 
l^riately  at  the  ordinary  sessions  of  the  Sunday-school. 


LESSON    I. 

THE  EXISTENCE  AND  ATTRIBUTES  OF  GOD,  OUR  CREATOR, 
KING,  FATHER,  AND    BENEFACTOR,  AS    EXHIB- 
ITED  IN   THE   PSALMS    OF   DAVID. 

(Originally  prepared  for  the  Sunday  School  of  the  Asylum  Hill  Congregational 
Church,  Hartford,  Ct.) 

INTRODUCTORY   EXERCISES. 

At  the  call  to  order  the  assembly  rises. 
The  leader  says : 

Hearken  unto  me,  O  ye  children  :  .  .  .  Hear  instruction  and 
be  wise,  and  refuse  it  not.     Prov.  viii.  32,  33. 

The  assembly  responds  : 

Seek  ye  out  of  the  book  of  the  Lord,  and  read.     Isa.  xxxiv,  16. 

Leader.  Every  house  is  builded  by  some  man ;  but  he  that 
built  all  things  is  God.     Heb.  iii.  4. 

Of  him,  and  through  him,  and  to  him  are  all  things.    Rom.  xi.  36. 

In  him  we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being.     Acts  xvii.  28. 

Know  therefore  this  day,  and  consider  it  in  thine  heart,  that 
the  Lord  he  is  God  in  heaven  above,  and  upon  the  earth  beneath  : 
there  is  none  else.     Deut.  iv.  39. 

Assembly.  Thou  art  worthy,  O  Lord,  to  receive  glory  and 
honor  and  power :  for  thou  hast  created  all  things,  and  for  thy 
pleasure  they  are  and  were  created.     Rev.  iv.  11. 

Leader.  The  Lord  our  God  is  righteous  in  all  his  works  which 
he  doeth.     Dan  ix.  14. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  8/ 

A  God  of  truth  and  without  iniquity,  just  and  right  is  he. 
Deut.  xxxii.  4. 

He  is  the  living  God,  and  steadfast  for  ever,  and  his  kingdom 
that  which  shall  not  be  destroyed,  and  his  dominion  shall  be 
even  unto  the  end.     Dan.  vi.  26. 

And  he  doeth  according  to  his  will  in  the  army  of  heaven,  and 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth :  and  none  can  stay  his  hand, 
or  say  unto  him,  What  doest  thou  ?     Dan.  iv.  35. 

Assembly.  Thine,  O  Lord,  is  the  greatness  and  the  power, 
and  the  glory  and  the  victory,  and  the  majesty  :  for  all  that  is  in 
the  heaven  and  in  the  earth  is  thine  ;  thine  is  the  kingdom,  O 
Lord,  and  thou  art  exalted  as  head  above  all.     I.  Chron.  xxix.  ii. 

Leader.  The  Lord  by  wisdom  hath  founded  the  earth ;  by 
understanding  hath  he  established  the  heavens.     Pro  v.  iii.  19. 

With  him  is  wisdom  and  strength,  he  hath  counsel  and  under- 
standing.    Job  xii.  13. 

The  Lord  searcheth  all  hearts,  and  understandeth  all  the  im- 
aginations of  the  thoughts.     I.  Chron.  xxviii,  9. 

Neither  is  there  any  creature  that  is  not  manifest  in  his  sight : 
but  all  things  are  naked  and  opened  unto  the  eyes  of  him  with 
whom  we  have  to  do.     Heb.  iv.  13. 

Assembly.  O  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and 
knowledge  of  God  !  how  unsearchable  are  his  judgments,  and 
his  ways  past  finding  out !     Rom.  xi.  33. 

All,  in  concert,  say : 

To  God  only  wise,  be  glory  through  Jesus  Christ  for  ever. 
Amen.     Rom.  xvi.  27. 

The  assembly  being  seated,  a  hymn  is  sung. 

Praise  to  God,  the  great  Creator  ; 

Praise  to  God  from  every  tongue. — {Happy  Voices,  Hymn  9. 

Praise  the  Lord  when  blushing  morning 

Wakes  the  blossoms  fresh  with  dew. — {Golden  Shower,  p.  43. 

Or  any  hymn  of  similar  character. 


35  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

All  rising,  Job.  xxxviii.  1-18  and  xl.  7-14  are  read 
in  alternation  by  leader  and  assembly : 

Leader.  Then  the  Lord  answered  Job  out  of  the  whirlwind 
and  said, 

Assembly.     Who  is  this  that  darkeneth  counsel 

By  words  without  knowledge  ? 

Leader.     Gird  up  now  thy  loins  like  a  man  ; 

For  I  will  demand  of  thee,  and  answer  thou  me. 

Assetfzbly.  Where  wast  thou  when  I  laid  the  foundations  of 
the  earth  ? 

Declare,  if  thou  hast  understanding. 

Leader.     Who  hath  laid  the  measures  thereof,  if  thou  knowest  ? 

Or  who  hath  stretched  the  line  upon  it  ? 

Assembly.     Whereupon  are  the  foundations  thereof  fastened  ! 

Or  who  laid  the  corner-stone  thereof ; 

Leader.     When  the  morning  stars  sang  together, 

And  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy  ? 

Assembly.     Or  who  shut  up  the  sea  with  doors, 

When  it  brake  forth,  as  if  it  had  issued  out  of  the  womb  ? 

Leader.     When  I  made  the  cloud  the  garment  thereof, 

And  thick  darkness  a  swaddling -band  for  it. 

Assembly.     And  brake  up  for  it  my  decreed  place, 

And  set  bars  and  doors, 

Leader.     And  said,  Hitherto  shalt  thou  come,  but  no  further : 

And  here  shall  thy  proud  waves  be  stayed  ? 

Assembly.     Hast  thou  commanded  the  morning  since  thy  days ; 

And  caused  the  day-spring  to  know  his  place  ; 

Leader.     That  it  might  take  hold  of  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

That  the  wicked  might  be  shaken  out  of  it  ? 

Assembly.     It  is  turned  as  clay  to  the  seal ; 

And  they  stand  as  a  garment. 

Leader.     And  from  the  wicked  their  light  is  withholden, 

And  the  high  arm  shall  be  broken 

Assembly.     Hast  thou  entered  into  the  springs  of  the  sea  ? 

Or  hast  thou  walked  in  the  search  of  the  depth  ? 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  89 

Leader.     Have  the  gates  of  death  been  opened  unto  thee  ? 
Or  hast  thou  seen  the  doors  of  the  shadow  of  death  ? 
Assembly.     Hast  thou  perceived  the  breadth  of  the  earth  ? 
Declare  if  thou  knowest  it  all. 
Leader.     Gird  up  thy  loins  now  like  a  man  : 
I  will  demand  of  thee,  and  declare  thou  unto  me. 
Asse?nbly.     Wilt  thou  also  disannul  my  judgment  ? 
Wilt  thou  condemn  me,  that  thou  mayest  be  righteous  ? 
Leader.     Hast  thou  an  arm  like  God  ? 
Or  canst  thou  thunder  with  a  voice  like  him  ? 
Assembly.     Deck  thyself  now  with  majesty  and  excellency  ; 
And  array  thyself  with  glory  and  beauty. 
Leader.     Cast  abroad  the  rage  of  thy  wrath  : 
And  behold  every  one  that  is  proud,  and  abase  him. 
Assembly.     Look  on  every  one  that  is  proud,  and  bring  him 
low  ; 

And  tread  down  the  wicked  in  their  place. 
Lmder.     Hide  them  in  the  dust  together  ; 
And  bind  their  faces  in  secret 
Asse77ibly.     Then  will  I  also  confess  unto  thee 
That  thine  own  right  hand  can  save  thee. 

Prayer  is  offered,  closing  with  the  Lord's  prayer,  in 
which  all  unite. 

All  rising,  the  assembly  unite  in  singing  a  hymn. 

Come,  sound  his  praise  abroad, 
And  hymns  of  glory  sing. 

\^A  m.  S.  S.  Hy77i7i  Book,  ft  52. 

All  being  seated,  the  leader  reads  the  first  fourteen 
verses  of  the  first  chapter  of  St.  John's  Gospel,  adding 
a  few  words  of  explanation  as  to  the  identity  of  the 
Word  with  Jesus  Christ. 

The  members  of  the  infant  department  rise  and  re- 
cite   as    follows,    from    the    Infant   Catechism,    (one 


90  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

scholar  giving  a  question  and  the  next  an  answer,  and 
so  on,  as  in  responsive  recitations  of  Scripture) : 

Q. — Who  made  the  world  ?  who  dress'd  the  earth  ? 
Who  gave  the  flowers  and  fruits  their  birth  ? 

A. — 'Twas  God,  by  whose  almighty  power 
The  shower  falls  and  blooms  the  flower. 

Q. — Who  placed  the  glorious  sun  on  high  ? 
Who  spread  abroad  the  starry  sky  ? 

A. — 'Twas  God,  who  said,  Let  there  be  light ; 
'Twas  God,  who  made  the  heavens  so  bright. 

Q. — W^ho  made  this  little  frame  of  mine  ? 
Who  made  my  soul,  almost  divine  ? 

A. — God's  wondrous  power  my  body  framed, 
And  from  his  breath  my  spirit  came. 

Q. — And  who  is  God  ?     Where  does  he  dwell  ? 
How  great  he  is  no  tongue  can  tell. 

A. — He  dwells  in  heaven  too  far  to  see, 
And  yet  he  stoops  to  look  on  me. 

Q. — How  near  is  God  ?     Does  he  e'er  come 
To  see  me  in  my  earthly  home  ? 

A. — Yes  ;  near  thy  path  and  round  thy  bed, 
'He  hears  whatever  there  is  said. 

Q. — How  good  is  God  !  I've  heard  it  said 
He  counts  the  hairs  upon  my  head. 

A. — He  hears  the  ravens  when  they  call ; 
He  watches  when  the  sparrows  fall. 

Q. — Can  God  love  me  ? — so  great,  so  high, — 
Me,  in  my  helpless  infancy  1 

A. — Yes,  when  on  earth  he  came  to  dwelJ 
He  loved  the  little  children  well. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  9 1 

Q. — What  were  the  words  he  kindly  said 
When  on  their  heads  his  hands  he  laid  ? 

A. — Suffer  the  lambs  to  come  to  me ; 
Like  such  must  my  disciples  be. 

[In  teaching  this  lesson  to  the  children,  the  ques- 
tions and  answers  should  be  fully  explained.  The 
rhyming  is  useful  in  impressing  the  lesson  when  it  is 
fairly  understood.] 

All  rising,  the  leader  says : 

Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth.  Eccl. 
xii.  I. 

The  assembly  responds : 

My  father,  thou  art  the  guide  of  my  youth.     Jer.  iii.  4. 

Leader.  Trust  in  the  Lord  with  ail  thine  heart ;  and  lean  not 
unto  thine  own  understanding.     Prov.  iii.  5. 

Asse77ibly.  Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him.  Job 
xiii.  15. 

Leader.  In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him,  and  he  shall  direct 
thy  paths.     Prov.  iii.  6. 

AH  being  seated,  a  hymn  is  sung. 

How  gentle  God's  commands, 

How  kind  his  precepts  are. 

{Song  Flowers,  p.  29. 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

The  leader  says  :  The  Psalms  are  full  of  evidences 
of  God's  existence,  as  shown  in  his  works  of  creation 
and  providence.  It  was  not  the  purpose  of  the  Psalm- 
ist to  declare,  in  so  many  words,  a  truth  which  it  seems 
impossible  should  be  doubted  ;  and  when  such  declar- 


92  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

ations  are  made,  it  is  only  that  they  may  sen'e  as 
incentives  to  trust,  or  as  a  ground  of  supreme  conso- 
lation. 

1.  Will  the  first  division  [or  class*]  repeat  some  of 
the  verses  in  which  David  in  this  way  affirms  the  ex- 
istence of  God  ? 

Division  [or  class]  No.  i  rises,  and  its  members 
recite,  simultaneously  or  in  consecutive  order,  as 
follows  : 

The  Lord  liveth ;  and  blessed  be  my  Rock ;  and  let  the  God 
of  my  salvation  be  exalted.     Psalms  xviii.  46. 

That  men  may  know  that  thou,  whose  name  alone  is  Jehovah, 
art  the  Most  High  over  all  the  earth.     Psalms  Ixxxiii.  18. 

For  the  Lord  is  great,  and  greatly  to  be  praised  :  he  is  to  be 
feared  above  all  gods. 

For  all  the  gods  of  the  nations  are  idols  ;  but  the  Lord  made 
the  heavens. 

Say  among  the  heathen  that  the  Lord  reigneth  :  the  world 
also  shall  be  established  that  it  shall  not  be  moved :  he  shall 
judge  the  people  righteously.     Psalms  xcvi.  4,  5,  10. 

2.  Leader.  Do  any  deny  the  existence  of  God.?  and 
who  are  they  ? 

Div.  N'o.  2.  The  fool  hath  said  in  his  heart,  There  is  no  God. 
They  are  corrupt,  they  have  done  abominable  works,  there  is 
none  that  doeth  good.     Psalms  xiv.  i. 

3.  Leader.  Even  without  the  Bible,  are  there  not 
proofs  enough  of  God's  existence  in  his  works,  to  leave 
men  without  excuse  for  disbelief  ? 

Div.  No.  3.  The  heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God ;  and  the 
firmament  sheweth  his  handywork. 


*  Each  class  can  take  a  section  of  this  lesson,  or  two  or  more  sections  can  be 
assigned  to  one  class. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  93 

Day  unto  day  uttereth  speech,  and  night  unto  night  sheweth 
knowledge. 

There  is  no  speech  nor  language,  where  their  voice  is  not 
heard.     Psalms  xix.  i,  2,  3. 

4.  Leader.  Is  God  the  absolute  sovereign  of  the 
universe  ? 

Div.  No.  4.  The  Lord  hath  prepared  his  throne  in  the 
heavens ;  and  his  kingdom  ruleth  over  all.     Psalms  ciii.  19. 

The  Lord  reigneth,  he  is  clothed  with  majesty  ;  the  Lord  is 
clothed  with  strength,  wherewith  he  hath  girded  himself:  the 
world  also  is  established,  that  it  cannot  be  moved.  Psalms 
xciii.  I. 

5.  Leader.  Repeat  some  passage  in  which  the 
Psalmist  asserts  God's  sovereign  rule  over  the  world 
of  nature. 

Div.  No.  5.  In  his  hand  are  the  deep  places  of  the  earth  :  the 
strength  of  the  hills  is  his  also. 

The  sea  is  his,  and  he  made  it :  and  his  hands  formed  the  dry 
land.     Psalms  xcv.  4,  5. 

Whatsoever  the  Lord  pleased,  that  did  he  in  heaven,  and  in 
earth,  in  the  seas,  and  all  deep  places. 

He  causeth  the  vapors  to  ascend  from  the  ends  of  the  earth  ; 
he  maketh  lightnings  for  the  rain  ;  he  bringeth  the  wind  out  of 
his  treasuries.     Psalms  cxxxv.  6,  7. 

6.  Leader.     And  over  angels  and  men. 

Div.  No.  6.  For  who  in  the  heaven  can  be  compared  unto  the 
Lord  ?  who  among  the  sons  of  the  mighty  can  be  likened  unto 
the  Lord  .-'     Psalms  Ixxxix.  6. 

For  the  kingdom  is  the  Lord's :  and  he  is  the  governor 
among  the  nations.     Psalms  xxii.  28. 

For  God  is  the  King  of  all  the  earth  :  sing  ye  praises  with 
understanding.    .Psalms  xlvii.  7. 


94  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

7.  Leader.  Does  God  himself,  through  the  mouth 
of  the  inspired  Psalmist,  assert  his  sovereignty  ? 

Div.  No.  7.  Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God  :  I  will  be  ex- 
alted among  the  heathen,  I  will  be  exalted  in  the  earth.  Psalms 
xlvi.  10. 

8.  Leader.  God  is  a  rightful  sovereign;  (ist.)  be- 
cause he  created  all  things.  How  does  Da,vid  express 
this  ? 

Div.  No.  8.  Know  ye  that  the  Lord  he  is  God  :  it  is  he  that 
hath  made  us,  and  not  we  ourselves  ;  we  are  his  people,  and  the 
sheep  of  his  pasture.     Psalms  c.  3. 

The  heavens  are  thine,  the  earth  also  is  thine  :  as  for  the  world, 
and  the  fullness  thereof,  thou  hast  founded  them. 

The  north  and  the  south  thou  hast  created  them  :  Tabor  and 
Herman  shall  rejoice  in  thy  name.     Psalms  Ixxxix.  11,  12. 

9.  Leader.  He  is  a  rightful  sovereign ;  (2d.)  because 
he  preserves,  and  sustains  the  works  which  he  has  cre- 
ated.    What  does  David  say  of  this  ? 

Div.  No.  9.  He  watereth  the  hills  from  his  chambers :  the 
earth  is  satisfied  with  the  fruit  of  thy  works. 

He  causeth  the  grass  to  grow  for  the  cattle,  and  herb  for  the 
service  of  man  :  that  he  may  bring  forth  food  out  of  the  earth. 

These  wait  all  upon  thee  ;  that  thou  mayest  give  them  their 
meat  in  due  season. 

That  thou  givest  them,  they  gather  :  thou  openest  thine  hand, 
they  are  filled  with  good. 

Thou  hidest  thy  face,  they  are  troubled  :  thou  takest  away 
their  breath,  they  die,  and  return  to  their  dust. 

Thou  sendest  forth  thy  spirit,  they  are  created  :  and  thou  re- 
newest  the  face  of  the  earth.     Psalms  civ.  13,  14,  27,  28,  29,  30. 

10.  Leader.  Is  not  this  a  reason  why  God  should  be 
worshiped  and  obeyed  ? 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  95 

Div.  JVo.  10.  O  come,  let  us  worship  and  bow  down  :  let  us 
kneel  before  the  Lord  our  maker. 

For  he  is  our  God  ;  and  we  are  the  people  of  his  pasture,  and 
the  sheep  of  his  hand.     To-day  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice. 

Harden  not  your  heart.     Psalms  xcv.  6,  7,  8. 

11.  Leader.     Is  God's  reign  eternal? 

Div.  No.  II.  Before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth,  or 
ever  thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world,  even  from  ever- 
lasting to  everlasting,  thou  art  God.     Psalms  xc.  2. 

Thy  throne  is  established  of  old :  thou  art  from  everlasting. 
Psalms  xciii.  2. 

12.  Leader.  Is  God  subject  to  change?  or  is  he 
"  the  same,  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever  ?  " 

Div,  No.  12.  Of  old  hast  thou  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
earth  :  and  the  heavens  are  the  work  of  thy  hands. 

They  shall  perish,  but  thou  shalt  endure  :  yea,  all  of  them 
shall  wax  old  like  a  garment ;  as  a  vesture  shalt  thou  change 
them,  and  they  shall  be  changed  : 

But  thou  art  the  same,  and  thy  years  shall  have  no  end. 
Psalms  cii.  25,  26,  27. 

The  counsel  of  the  Lord  standeth  for  ever,  the  thoughts  of  his 
heart  to  all  generations.     Psalms  xxxiii.  11. 

13.  Leader,     Is  he  a  God  of  infinite  power? 

Div.  No.  13.  O  Lord  God  of  hosts,  who  is  a  strong  Lord  like 
unto  thee  ?  or  to  thy  faithfulness  round  about  thee  ?  Psalms 
Ixxxix.  8. 

14.  Leader.  Is  God  as  far  above  earthly  beings  in 
majesty  as  in  power  ? 

Div.  No.  14.  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul.  O  Lord  my  God, 
thou  art  very  great ;  thou  art  clothed  with  honor  and  majesty. 

Who  coverest  thyself  with  light  as  with  a  garment :  who 
stretchest  out  the  heavens  like  a  curtain  : 

Who  layeth  the  beams  of  his  chambers  in  the  waters  :  who 


96  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

malceth  the  clouds  his  chariot :  who  walketh  upon  the  wings  of 
the  wind  : 

Who  maketh  his  angels  spirits  ;  his  ministers  a  flaming  fire. 
Psalms  civ.  i,  2,  3,  4. 

15.  Leader.  Is  he  an  infinitely  wise,  an  omniscient 
God? 

Div.  A^o.  15.  He  that  planted  the  ear,  shall  he  not  hear  ?  he 
that  formed  the  eye,  shall  he  not  see  ? 

He  that  chastiseth  the  heathen,  shall  not  he  correct  ?  he  that 
teacheth  man  knowledge,  shall  not  he  know  .'*  Psalms  xciv. 
9,  10. 

For  there  is  not  a  word  in  my  tongue,  but,  lo,  O  Lord,  thou 
knowest  it  altogether. 

Thou  hast  beset  me  behind  and  before,  and  laid  thine  hand 
-upon  me. 

Such  knowledge  is  too  wonderful  for  me  ;  it  is  high,  I  cannot 
attain  unto  it. 

Yea,  the  darkness  hideth  not  from  thee  ;  but  the  night  shineth 
as  the  day :  the  darkness  and  the  light  are  both  alike  to  thee. 
Psalms  cxxxix.  4,  5,  6,  12. 

Great  is  our  Lord,  and  of  great  power :  his  understanding  is 
infinite.     Psalms  cxlvii   5. 

16.  Leader.  God  is  not  only  himself  all-wise,  but 
the  source  of  all  true  wisdom  for  man. 

How  did  David  become  wise  ? 

Div.  No.  16.  Thou  through  thy  commandments  hast  made 
me  wiser  than  mine  enemies  :  for  they  are  ever  with  me. 

I  have  more  understanding  than  all  my  teachers  :  for  thy  tes- 
timonies are  my  meditation. 

I  understand  more  than  the  ancients,  because  I  keep  thy-  pre- 
cepts.    Psalms  cxix.  98,  99,  100. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom  :  a  good 
understanding  have  all  they  that  do  his  commandments  :  his 
praise  endureth  for  ever.     Psalms  cxi.  10. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  9/ 

17.  Leader.  How  has  David  expressed  the  truth  of 
God's  omnipresence — or  that  he  is  an  everywhere-pres- 
ent God  ? 

Div.  No.  17.  Whither  shall  I  go  from  thy  Spirit?  or  whither 
shall  I  flee  from  thy  presence  ? 

If  I  ascend  up  into  heaven,  thou  art  there  :  if  I  make  my  bed 
in  hell,  behold,  thou  art  there. 

If  I  take  the  wings  of  the  morning,  and  dwell  in  the  upper- 
most parts  of  the  sea  ; 

Even  there  shall  thy  hand  lead  me,  and  thy  right  hand  shall 
hold  me.     Psalms  cxxxix.  7,  8,  9,  10. 

18.  Leader.  We  have  heard  the  Psalmist's  testimony 
to  the  existence  of  God,  his  rightful  sovereignty,  and 
the  perfection  of  his  natural  attributes, — his  unchange- 
ableness,  omnipotence,  and  omnipresence.  Let  us 
next  consider  those  passages  in  which  his  moral  attri- 
butes are  affirmed, — his  holiness,  justice,  truth,  good- 
ness, and  mercy. 

In  what  verses  does  David  declare  the  holiness  of 
God? 

Div.  No.  iS.  But  thou  art  holy,  O  thou  that  inhabitest  the 
praises  of  Israel.     Psalms  xxii.  3. 

The  Lord  is  righteous  in  all  his  ways,  and  holy  in  all  his  works. 
Psalms  cxlv.  17. 

Rejoice  in  the  Lord,  ye  righteous  ;  and  give  thanks  at  the  re- 
membrance of  his  holiness.     Psalms  xcvii.  12. 

19.  Leader.     What  does  he  say  of  his  justice  ? 

Div.  No.  19.  Thou  dost  establish  equity,  thou  executest 
judgment  and  righteousness  in  Jacob.     Psalms  xcix.  4. 

Justice  and  judgment  are  the  habitation  of  thy  throne.  Psalms 
Ixxxix.  14. 

5 


95  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

20.  Leader.     What  is  said  of  his  truth  ? 

Div.  No.  20.  For  the  word  of  the  Lord  is  right ;  and  all  his 
works  are  done  in  truth-.     Psalms  xxxiii.  4. 

Thy  word  is  true  from  the  beginning :  and  every  one  of  thy 
righteous  judgments  endureth  for  ever.     Psalms  cxix.  160. 

21.  Leader.  The  Psalmist  loved  especially  to  cele- 
brate the  mercy  of  God.  Repeat  some  verses  in  which 
he  proclaims  it. 

Div.  No.  21.  But  thou,  O  Lord,  art  a  God  full  of  compassion, 
and  gracious,  long-suffering,  and  plenteous  in  mercy  and  truth. 
Psalms  Ixxxvi.  15. 

O  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord ;  For  he  is  good  :  for  his  mercy 
endureth  forever. 

O  give  thanks  unto  the  God  of  gods :  for  his  mercy  endureth 
forever.     Psalms  cxxxvi.  i,  2. 

2  2.  Leader.  Does  God's  mercy,  infinite  though  it  is, 
lessen  his  just  anger  against  sin  ? 

Div.  No.  22.  For  thou  art  not  a  God  that  hath  pleasure  in 
wickedness  :  neither  shall  evil  dwell  with  thee. 

The  foolish  shall  not  stand  in  thy  sight :  thou  hatest  all  work- 
ers of  iniquity.     Psalms  v.  4,  5. 

God  judgeth  the  righteous,  and  God  is  angry  with  the  wicked 
eyery  day. 

If  he  turn  not,  he  will  whet  his  sword ;  he  hath  bent  his  bow, 
and  made  it  ready.     Psalms  vii.  11,  12. 

Kiss  the  Son,  lest  he  be  angry,  and  ye  perish  from  the  way, 
when  his  wrath  is  kindled  but  a  little.  Blessed  are  all  they  that 
put  their  trust  in  him.     Psalms  ii.  12. 

23.  Leader.  The  longest  Psalm,  [which  is  it?]  is 
full  of  the  excellence  of  God's  law.  Repeat  some  of 
the  verses  which  especially  declare  this. 

Div.  No.  23.  And  I  will  delight  myself  in  thy  commandments, 
which  I  have  loved.   , 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  99 

My  hands  also  will  I  lift  up  unto  thy  commandments,  which  I 
have  loved  ;  and  I  will  meditate  in  thy  statutes. 

The  law  of  thy  mouth  is  better  unto  me  than  thousands  of 
gold  and  silver. 

Thy  word  is  a  lamp  unto  my  feet,  and  a  light  unto  my  path. 
Psalms  cxix.  47,  48,  72,  105. 

24.  Leader.  May  this  God  of  infinite  greatness  and 
of  infinite  holiness  be  the  refuge  and  trust  of  his  chil- 
dren ? 

Div.  No.  24.  The  Lord  is  my  rock,  and  my  fortress,  and  my 
deliverer  ;  my  God,  my  strength,  in  whom  I  will  trust ;  my  buck- 
ler, and  the  horn  of  my  salvation,  and  my  high  tower.  Psalms 
xviii.  2. 

God  is  our  refuge  and  strength,  a  very  pi-esent  help  in  trouble. 

Therefore  will  not  we  fear,  though  the  earth  be  removed,  and 
though  the  mountains  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the  sea ; 

Though  the  waters  thereof  roar  and  be  troubled,  though  the 
mountains  shake  with  the  swelling  thereof.     Psalms  xlvi.  i,  2,  3. 

25.  Leader.  Will  God  surely  save  those  who  rightly 
put  trust  in  him  } 

Div.  No.  25.  The  righteous  cry,  and  the  Lord  heareth,  and 
delivereth  them  out  of  all  their  troubles. 

The  Lord  redeemeth  the  soul  of  his  servants  :  and  none  of 
them  that  trust  in  him  shall  be  desolate.     Psalms  xxxiv.  17,  22. 

But  the  salvation  of  the  righteous  is  of  the  Lord  :  he  is  their 
strength  in  the  time  of  trouble. 

And  the  Lord  shall  help  them,  and  deliver  them :  he  shall 
deliver  them  from  the  wicked,  and  save  them,  because  they  trust 
in  him.     Psalms  xxxvii.  39,  40. 

Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  daily  loadeth  us  with  benefits,  even 
the  God  of  our  salvation.     Psalms  Ixviii.  19. 

26.  Leader.  Are  we  assured  of  God's  watchful  care 
of  all  who  are  his  ? 


lOO  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Div.  No.  26.  Behold,  he  that  keepeth  Israel  shall  neither 
slumber  nor  sleep. 

The  Lord  is  thy  keeper:  the  Lord  is  th}^ shade  upon  thy  right 
hand. 

The  sun  shall  not  smite  thee  by  day,  nor  the  moon  by 
night. 

The  Lord  shall  preserve  thee  from  all  evil :  he  shall  preserve 
thy  soul. 

The  Lord  shall  preserve  thy  going  out  and  thy  coming  in 
from  this  time  forth,  and  even  for  evermore.  Psalms  cxxi.  4, 
5.  6,  7,  8. 

Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death, 
I  will  fear  no  evil :  for  thou  art  with  me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff 
they  comfort  me.     Psalms  xxiii.  4. 

Leader.  Let  us  all  unite  with  the  Psalmist  in  bless- 
ing and  praise  to  God — our  Creator,  King,  Father,  and 
Benefactor. 

All  rising,  recite  in  concert : 

Bless  the  Lord,  ye  his  angels,  that  excel  in  strength,  that  do 
his  commandments,  hearkening  unto  the  voice  of  his  woird. 

Bless  ye  the  Lord,  all  ye  his  hosts  ;  ye  ministers  of  his,  that 
do  his  pleasure. 

Bless  the  Lord,  all  his  works  in  all  places  of  his  dominion : 
Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul.     Psalms  ciii.  20,  21,  22. 

Blessed  be  the  Lord  God,  the  God  of  Israel,  who  only  doeth 
wondrous  things. 

And  blessed  be  his  glorious  name  forever :  and  let  the  whole 
earth  be  filled  with  his  glory ;  Amen,  and  Amen.  Psalms 
Ixxii,  18,  19. 

An  appropriate  hymn  is  sung,  as  : 

Praise  the  Lord  who  reigns  above 

And  keeps  his  courts  below.      iHappy  Voices,  p.  172. 

The  service  is  then  closed  with  the  benediction,  if 
the  pastor  is  present. 


LESSON    II. 

OLD  TESTAMENT  PROPHECIES  CONCERNING  JESUS  CHRIST, 

WITH    THEIR    FULFILLMENT   AS    RECORDED    IN 

THE    NEW   TESTAMENT. 

For  opening  exercises,  either  of  the  schedules  al- 
ready given  may  be  used,  with  variations,  as  follows : 

OPENING   SENTENCES. 

Leader.  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation, 
that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.  I.  Tim.  i.  15. 

Assembly.  To  the  Lord  our  God  belong  mercies,  and  forgive- 
nesses, though  we  have  rebelled  against  him.     Dan.  ix.  9. 

All.  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all 
sin.     I.  John  i.  7. 

Or, 

Leader.  God  anointed  Jesus  of  Nazareth  with  the  Holy  Ghost 
and  with  power ;  who  went  about  doing  good  and  healing  all 
that  were  oppressed  of  the  devil ;  for  God  was  with  him.  Acts 
X.  38. 

Assembly.  God  also  hath  highly  exalted  him  and  given  him  a 
name  which  is  above  every  name.     Phil.  ii.  9. 

All.  Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other ;  for  there  is  none 
other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men,  whereby  we  must 
be  saved.     Acts  iv.  12. 

SCRIPTURE    READINGS. 

To  be  read  in  alternation  by  leader  and  assembly : 
Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,   come   ye   to  the  waters,  &c. 
Isaiah  Iv. 


102  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

To  be  read  by  the  leader,  and  briefly  explained  by 
him : 

Luke  ii.  8-20. 

HYMNS. 

All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus  name  ! — Corojtation. 

Come  let  us  sing  of  Jesus. — Song  Flowers. 

I  think  when  I  read  that  sweet  story  of  old. — S.  S.  Hosanna. 

CHANT. 

The  people  that  walked  in  darkness  have  seen  a  great  light, 
&c.     Isa.  ix.  2,  6,  7. 

In  this  exercise,  thirty  prophecies  are  named,  with 
their  corresponding  fulfillment  or  re-affirm ation.  A 
teacher  can  announce  the  prophecy  and  his  class 
recite  its  fiifillment.  Or,  one  class  can  announce  the 
prophecy,  and  the  next  class  the  fiilfillment.  Or  these 
two  plans  may  be  combined,  so  that  each  class  may 
have  a  share  in  the  exercise,  whether  the  school  be 
large  or  small.  Where  more  than  one  \'erse  is  in- 
cluded in  a  reference,  the  several  scholars  of  a  class 
may  each  recite  one ;  or  the  entire  class  may  recite 
them  in  concert. 

The  leader  will  announce  the  subject  of  the  proph- 
ecy, in  each  case,  as  he  calls  on  the  class  or  division 
for  recitation. 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

Leader.  What  was  the  prophecy  as  to  the  birth- 
place of  Jesus  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  I.  But  thou,  Bethlehem  Ephratah, 
though  thou  be  little  among  the  thousands  of  Judah,  yet  out  of 
thee  shall  he  come  forth  unto  me  that  is  to  be  ruler  in  Israel  : 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  IO3 

whose  goings  forth  have  been  .from  of  old,  from  everlasting. 
Micah  V.  2. 

Leader.  What  is  the  record  of  the  fulfillment  of  this 
prophecy  ? 

Class  No.  I.  Jesus  was  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Judea  in  the 
days  of  Herod  the  King.     Matt.  ii.  i. 

Leader.  What  was  the  prophecy  as  to  the  homage 
he  should  receive  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  2.  The  kings  of  Tarshish  and  of  the  isles 
shall  bring  presents  :  the  kings  of  Sheba  and  Seba  shall  offer  gifts. 

Yea,  all  kings  shall  fall  down  before  him  :  all  nations  shall 
serve  him.     Psalms  Ixxii.  10,  11. 

Leader.     Will  you  show  its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  2.  Behold,  there  came  wise  men  from  the  east  to 
Jerusalem. 

And  when  they  were  come  into  the  house,  they  saw  the  young 
child  with  Mary  his  mother,  and  fell  down,  and  worshiped  him  : 
and  when  they  had  opened  their  treasures,  they  presented  unto 
him  gifts  ;  gold,  and  frankincense,  and  myrrh.     Matt.  ii.  i,  ii. 

Leader.     As  to  his  being  a  dweller  in  Egypt  ? 
Teacher  of  Class  N'o.  3.     When   Israel   was   a   child,  then  I 
loved  him,  and  called  my  son  out  of  Egypt.     Hos.  xi.  i. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment? 

Class  No.  3.  When  he  arose,  he  took  the  young  child  and  his 
mother  by  night,  and  departed  into  Egypt : 

And  was  there  until  the  death  of  Herod  :  that  it  might  be  ful- 
filled which  was  spoken  of  the  Lord  by  the  prophet,  saying,  Out 
of  Egypt  have  I  called  my  son.     Matt.  ii.  14,  15. 

Leader.     As  to  the  forerunner  of  his  ministry  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  4.  The  voice  of  him  that  crieth  in  the 
wilderness,  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  straight  in  the 
desert  a  highway  for  our  God.     Isa.  xl.  3. 


104  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  4.  In  those  days  came  John  the  Baptist,  preaching 
in  the  wilderness  of  Judea, 

And  saying,  Repent  ye :  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand. 
Matt.  iii.  I,  2. 

Leader.     As  to  his  humility  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  N'o.  5.  Behold  my  servant,  whom  I  uphold ; 
mine  elect,  in  whom  my  soul  delighteth ;  I  have  put  my  spirit 
upon  him  :  he  shall  bring  forth  judgment  to  the  Gentiles. 

He  shall  not  cry,  nor  lift  up,  nor  cause  his  voice  to  be  heard  in 
the  street.     Isa.  xlii.  i,  2. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  5.  But  when  Jesus  knew  it,  he  withdrew  himself 
from  thence  :  and  great  multitudes  followed  him,  and  he  heaied 
them  all : 

And  charged  them  that  they  should  not  make  him  known. 
Matt.  xii.  15,  16. 

Leader.     As  to  the  guilelessness  of  his  life  ? 
Teacher  of  Class  No.  6.     He  had  done  no  violence,  neither 
was  any  deceit  in  his  mouth.     Isa.  liii.  9. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  6.  For  we  have  not  an  high  priest  which  cannot  be 
touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities  ;  but  was  in  all  points 
tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin.     Heb.  iv.  15. 

Leader.     As  to  his  being  rejected  by  his  brethren  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  N'o.  7.  I  am  become  a  stranger  unto  my 
brethren,  and  an  alien  unto  my  mother's  children.  Psalms 
Ixix.  8. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  7.  He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own  received 
him  not.     John  i.  11. 

For  neither  did  his  brethren  believe  in  him.     John  vii.  5. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  IO5 

Leader.     As  to  the  style  of  his  preaching  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  8.  I  will  open  my  mouth  in  a  parable  : 
I  will  utter  dark  sayings  of  old.     Psalms  Ixxviii.  2. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment? 

Class  No.  8.  All  these  things  spake  Jesus  unto  the  multitude 
in  parables  ;  and  without  a  parable  spake  he  not  unto  them  : 

That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken  by  the  prophet, 
saying,  I  will  open  my  mouth  in  parables ;  1  will  utter  things 
which  have  been  kept  secret  from  the  foundation  of  the  world. 
Matt.  xiii.  34,  35. 

Leader.     As  to  his  working  of  miracles } 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  9.  Then  the  eyes  of  the  blind  shall  be 
opened,  and  the  ears  of  the  deaf  shall  be  unstopped. 

Then  shall  the  lame  man  leap  as  an  hart,  and  the  tongue  of  the 
dumb  sing  :  for  in  the  wilderness  shall  waters  break  out,  and 
streams  in  the  desert.     Isa.  xxxv.  5,  6. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  1 

Class  No.  9.  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Go  and 
shew  John  again  those  things  which  ye  do  hear  and  see  : 

The  blind  receive  their  sight,  and  the  lame  walk,  the  lepers 
are  cleansed,  and  the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  are  raised  up,  and  the 
poor  have  the  gospel  preached  to  them. 

And  blessed  is  he,  whosoever  shall  not  be  offended  in  me. 
Matt.  xi.  4-6. 

Then  gathered  the  chief  priests  and  the  Pharisees  a  council, 
and  said.  What  do  we }  for  this  man  doeth  many  miracles. 
John  xi.  47. 

The  superintendent  recites : 

Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  who  hath  with  his  hands  ful- 
filled that  which  he  spake  with  his  mouth.     II.  Chronicles  vi.  4. 

How  God  anointed  Jesus  of  Nazareth  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
with  power:  who  went  about  doing  good,  and  healing  all" that 
were  oppressed  of  the  devil  ;  for  God  was  with  him.  Acts  x.  38. 
5* 


I06  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

The  pastor  if  present,  may  recite  : 

For  by  him  were  all  things  created  that  are  in  heaven,  and  that 
are  in  earth,  visible  and  invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones,  or 
dominions,  or  principalities,  or  powers  :  all  things  were  created 
by  him  and  for  him  : 

And  he  is  before  all  things,  and  by  him  all  things  consist. 

And  he  is  the  head  of  the  body,  the  church :  who  is  the  begin- 
ning, the  first-born  from  the  dead  ;  that  in  all  things  he  might 
have  the  pre-eminence. 

For  it  pleased  the  Father,  that  in  him  should  all  fulness  dwell. 
Col.  i.  16-19. 

All  rising,  recite  in  concert  : 

But  God  commendeth  his  love  toward  us,  in  that,  while  we 
were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us.     Rom.  v.  8. 

A  hymn  is  sung. 

Saviour,  like  a  shepherd  lead  us, 
Much  we  need  thy  tender  care. 

[Golden  Chain. 

Leader.  What  was  the  prophecy  as  to  the  public 
entry  of  Jesus  into  Jerusalem? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  10.  Rejoice  greatly,  O  daughter  of  Zion  ^ 
shout,  O  daughter  of  Jerusalem  :  behold,  thy  King  cometh  unto 
thee  :  he  is  just,  and  having  salvation;  lowly,  and  riding  upon 
an  ass,  and  upon  a  colt  the  foal  of  an  ass.     Zech.  ix.  9. 

Leader.     What  is  the  record  of  its  fulfillment  t 

Class  No.  10.  And  when  they  drew  nigh  unto  Jerusalem,  and 
were  come  to  Bethphage,  unto  the  mount  of  Olives,  then  sent 
Jesus  two  disciples. 

Saying  unto  them,  Go  into  the  village  over  against  you,  and 
straightway  ye  shall  find  an  ass  tied,  and  a  colt  with  her  :  loose 
them  and  bring  them  unto  me. 

And  if  any  man  say  aught  unto  you,  ye  shall  say,  the  Lord 
hath  need  of  them  ;  and  straightway  he  will  send  them. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  10/ 

All  this  was  done,  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken 
by  the  prophet,  saying, 

Tell  ye  the  daughter  of  Sion,  Behold,  tliy  King  cometh  unto 
thee,  meek,  and  sitting  upon  an  ass,  and  a  colt  the  foal  of  an  ass. 
Matt.  xxi.  1-5. 

Leader.     As  to  his  betrayal  by  a  friend } 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  1 1.  For  it  was  not  an  enemy  that  re- 
proached me  ;  then  I  could  have  borne  it :  neither  was  it  he  that 
hated  me  that  did  magnify  himself  against  me  ;  then  I  would 
have  hid  myself  from  him  : 

But  it  was  thou,  a  man  mine  equal,  my  guide,  and  mine  ac- 
quaintance. 

We  took  sweet  counsel  together,  and  walked  unto  the  house 
of  God  in  company.     Psalms  Iv,  12-14. 

Yea,  mine  own  familiar  friend,  in  whom  I  trusted,  which  did  eat 
of  my  bread,  hath  lifted  up  his  heel  against  me.     Psalms  xli.  9. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  II.  I  speak  not  of  you  all  :  I  know  whom  I  have 
chosen  :  but  that  the  Scripture  may  be  fulfilled,  He  that  eateth 
bread  with  me  hath  lifted  up  his  heel  against  me. 

When  Jesus  had  thus  said,  he  was  troubled  in  spirit,  and  tes- 
tified, and  said.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  that  one  of  you 
shall  betray  me.     John  xiii.  18,  21. 

And  Judas  Iscariot,  one  of  the  twelve,  went  unto  the  chief 
priests,  to  betray  him  unto  them.     Mark  xiv.  10. 

Leader.     As  to  the  price  of  his  purchase  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  12.  And  I  said  unto  them.  If  ye  think 
good,  give  me  my  price  ;  and  if  not,  forbear.  So  they  weighed 
for  my  price  thirty  pieces  of  silver.     Zech.  xi.  12. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  12.     Then  one  of  the  twelve,  called  Judas  Iscariot, 
went  unto  the  chief  priests, 
And  said  unto  them.  What  will  ye  give  me,  and  I  will  deliver 


I08  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

him  unto  you  ?    And  they  covenanted  with  him  for  thirty  pieces 
of  silver.     Matt,  xxvi.^14,  15. 

Leader.     As  to  the  use  made  of  his  purchase-money  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  13.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  Cast  it 
unto  the  potter  :  a  goodly  price  that  I  was  prized  at  of  them. 
And  I  took  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  and  cast  them  to  the  pot- 
ter in  the  house  of  the  Lord.     Zech.  xi.  13. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  13.  And  the  chief  priests  took  the  silver  pieces, 
and  said.  It  is  not  lawful  for  to  put  them  into  the  treasury,  be- 
cause it  is  the  price  of  blood. 

And  they  took  counsel,  and  bought  with  them  the  potter's 
field,  to  bury  strangers  in.     Matt,  xxvii.  6,  7. 

Leader.  As  to  his  patience  and  silence  under  suf- 
fering ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  14.  He  was  oppressed,  and  he  was 
afflicted,  yet  he  opened  not  his  mouth  :  he  is  brought  as  a  lamb 
to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers  is  dumb,  so 
he  openeth  not  his  mouth.     Isa.  liii.  7. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  14.  And  when  he  was  accused  of  the  chief  priests 
and  elders,  he  answered  nothing. 

Then  said  Pilate  unto  him,  Hearest  thou  not  how  many  things 
they  witness  against  thee  ? 

And  he  answered  him  to  never  a  word ;  insomuch  that  the 
governor  marvelled  greatly.     Matt,  xxvii.  12-14. 

Leader.     As  to  his  being  smitten  on  the  head  ? 
Teacher  of  Class  No.  15.     They  shall  smite  the  judge  of  Israel 
with  a  rod  upon  the  cheek.     Micah  v.  i. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  15.  And  they  spit  upon  him,  and  took  the  reed,  and 
smote  him  on  the  head.     Matt,  xxvii.  30. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  IO9 

Leader.     As  to  his  being  condemned  with  criminals  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  16,  And  he  was  numbered  with  the 
transgressors  ;  and  he  bare  the  sin  of  many,  and  made  interces- 
sion for  the  transgressors.     Isa.  liii.  12. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment .'' 

Class  No  16.  And  with  him  they  crucify  two  thieves  ;  the 
one  on  his  right  hand,  and  the  other  on  his  left. 

And  the  Scripture  was  fulfilled,  which  saith,  And  he  was  num- 
bered with  the  transgressors.     Mark  xv.  27,  28. 

Leader.     As  to  his  being  nailed  to  the  cross  ? 
Teacher  of  Class  No.  17.     The  assembly  of  the  wicked  have  in- 
closed me  :  they  pierced  my  hands  and  my  feet.     Psalms  xxii.  16. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  17.     And  they  crucified  him.     Matt,  xxvii.  35. 

Then  saith  he  to  Thomas,  Reach  hither  thy  finger,  and  behold 
my  hands  :  and  reach  hither  thy  hand,  and  thrust  it  into  my 
side  :  and  be  not  faithless,  but  believing:     John  xx.  27. 

Lxader.     As  to  gall  and  vinegar  being  offered  him  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  18.     They  gave  me  also  gall  for  my  meat; 

and  in  my  thirst  they  gave  me  vinegar  to  drink.     Psalms  Ixix.  21. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  18.  They  gave  him  vinegar  to  drink,  mingled  with 
gall :  and  when  he  had  tasted  thereof,  he  would  not  drink. 
Matt,  xxvii.  34. 


Leader.     As  to  his  side  being  pierced 


Teacher  of  Class  No.  19.  They  shall  look  upon  me  whom 
they  have  pierced,  and  they  shall  mourn  for  him,  as  one  mourn- 
eth  for  his  only  son,  and  shall  be  in  bitterness  for  him,  as  one 
that  is  in  bitterness  for  his  first-born.     Zech.  xii.  10. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  1 

Class  No.  19.     But  one  of  the  soldiers  with  a  spear  pierced 


1 10  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

his  side,  and  forthwith  came  there  out  blood  and  water.     John 
xix.  34. 

Leader.     As  to  the  preservation  of  his  every  bone  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  20.  He  keepeth  all  his  bones  :  net  one 
of  them  is  broken.     Psalms  xxxiv.  20. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  1 

Class  No.  20.  But  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  and  saw  that  he 
was  dead  already,  they  brake  not  his  legs : 

For  these  things  were  done,  that  the  Scripture  should  be  ful- 
filled, A  bone  of  him  sliall  not  be  broken.     John  xix.  33,  36. 

Leader.     As  to  his  suffering  death  ? 
Teacher  of  Class  No.  21.     He  hath  poured  out  his  soul  unto 
death.     Isa.  liii.  12. 

leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  21.  Jesus,  when  he  had  cried  again  with  a  \q\x( 
voice,  yielded  up  the  ghost.     Matt,  xxvii.  50. 

The  superintendent  recites : 
Certainly  this  was  a  righteous  man.     Luke  xxiii.  47. 
Truly  this  was  the  Son  of  God.     Matt.  xxvi.  54. 

The  pastor  may  add  : 

But  those  things,  which  God  before  had  shewed  by  the  mouth 
of  all  his  prophets,  that  Christ  should  suffer,  he  hath  so  ful- 
filled. 

Repent  ye  therefore,  and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may  be 
blotted  out.     Acts  iii.  18,  19. 

All,  rising,  recite  in  concert : 

When  thou  saidst.  Seek  ye  my  face  ;  my  heart  said  unto  thee. 
Thy  face.  Lord,  will  I  seek.     Psalms  xxvii.  8. 

A  hymn  is  sung  : 

I  will  sing  for  Jesus. 

[Smghig-  Pilgrim. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  Ill 

Leader.  What  was  the  prophecy  as  to  the  division 
of  the  garments  of  Jesus  as  spoils  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  22.  They  part  my  garments  among  them, 
and  cast  lots  upon  my  vesture.     Psalms  xxii.  i8. 

Leader.     What  is  the  record,  of  its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  22.  Then  the  soldiers,  when  they  had  crucified 
Jesus,  took  his  garments,  and  made  four  parts,  to  every  soldier 
a  part ;  and  also  his  coat  :  now  the  coat  was  without  seam, 
woven  from  the  top  throughout. 

They  said  therefore  among  themselves.  Let  us  not  rend  it,  but 
cast  lots  for  it,  whose  it  shall  be  :  that  the  Scripture  might  be 
fulfilled,  which  saith.  They  parted  my  raiment  among  them,  and 
for  my  vesture  they  did  cast  lots.  These  things  therefore  the 
soldiers  did.     John  xix.  23,  24. 

Leader.  As  to  his  finding  rest  in  the  grave  of  the 
wealthy  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  23.  And  he  made  his  grave  with  the 
wicked,  and  with  the  rich  in  his  death.     Isa.  liii.  ix. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment } 

Class  No.  23.  When  the  even  was  come,  there  came  a  rich 
man  of  Arimathea,  named  Joseph,  who  also  himself  was  Jesus' 
disciple  : 

He  went  to  Pilate,  and  begged  the  body  of  Jesus.  Then 
Pilate  commanded  the  body  to  be  delivered. 

And  when  Joseph  had  taken  the  body,  he  wrapped  it  in  a  clean 
linen  cloth, 

And  laid  it  in  his  own  new  tomb,  which  he  had  hewn  out  in 
the  rock  :  and  he  rolled  a  great  stone  to  the  door  of  the  sepul- 
chre, and  departed.     Matt,  xxvii.  57-60. 

Leader.     As  to  his  resurrection  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  24.  For  thou  wilt  not  leave  my  soul  in 
hell ;  neither  wilt  thou  suffer  thine  Holy  One  to  see  corruption. 
Psalms  xvi.  10. 


112  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Thy  dead  men  shall  live,  together  with  my  dead  body  shall 
they  arise.  Awake  and  sing,  ye  that  dwell  in  dust :  for  thy  dew 
is  as  the  dew  of  herbs,  and  the  earth  shall  cast  out  the  dead. 
Isa.  xxvi.  19. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  24.  And  the  angel  answered  and  said  unto  the 
woman,  Fear  not  ye  :  for  I  know  that  ye  seek  Jesus,  which  was 
crucified. 

He  is  not  here  :  for  he  is  risen,  as  he  said.  Come,  see  the 
place  where  the  Lord  lay.     Matt,  xxviii.  5,  6. 

Leader.     As  to  his  ascension  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  25.  Thou  hast  ascended  on  high,  thou 
hast  led  captivity  captive  :  thou  hast  received  gifts  for  men  ;  yea, 
for  the  rebellious  also,  that  the  Lord  God  might  dwell  among 
them.     Psalms  Ixviii.  18. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  N'o.  25.  And  it  came  to  pass,  while  he  blessed  them,  he 
was  parted  from  them,  and  carried  up  into  heaven.  Luke 
xxiv.  51. 

Leader.     As  to  his  sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  26.  The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  sit 
thou  at  my  right  hand,  until  I  make  thine  enemies  thy  footstool. 
Psalms  ex.  i. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  t 

Class  No.  26.  Who,  being  the  brightness  of  his  glory,  and  the 
express  image  of  his  person,  and  upholding  all  things  by  the 
word  of  his  power,  when  he  had  by  himself  purged  our  sins,  sat 
down  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high.     Heb.  i.  3. 

Leader.     As  to  the  righteousness  of  his  rule  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  27.  Thy  throne,  O  Lord,  is  for  ever  and 
ever  :  the  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom  is  a  right  sceptre. 

Thou  lovest  righteousness,  and  hatest  wickedness  ;  therefore 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  II 3 

God,  thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee  with  the  oil  of  gladness  above 
thy  fellows.     Psalms  xlv.  6,  7. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  27.  I  can  of  mine  own  self  do  nothing  :  as  I  hear,  I 
judge  :  and  my  judgment  is  just ;  because  I  seek  not  mine  own 
will,  but  the  will  of  the  Father  which  hath  sent  me.     John  v.  30. 

Leader.     As  to  his  mission  as  the  Saviour  of  sinners  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  28.  The  people  that  walked  in  darkness 
have  seen  a  great  light :  they  that  dwell  in  the  land  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  upon  them  hath  the  light  shined.     Isa.  ix.  2. 

And  a  man  shall  be  as  a  hiding  place  from  the  wind,  and  a 
covert  from  the  tempest ;  as  rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place,  as  the 
shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land.     Isa  xxxii.  2. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  2^.  There  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation  to 
them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh, 
but  after  the  Spirit.     Rom.  viii.  i. 

In  whom  we  have  redemption  through  his  blood,  even  the  for- 
giveness of  sins.     Col.  i.  14. 

Leader.  As  to  his  becoming  the  chief  corner-stone 
and  sure  foundation  of  the  church  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  29.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God, 
Behold,  I  lay  in  Zion  for  a  foundation  a  stone,  a  tried  stone,  a 
precious  corner-stone,  a  sure  foundation  :  he  that  believeth  shall 
not  make  haste.     Isa.  xxviii.  16. 

Leader.     Its  fulfillment  ? 

Class  No.  29.  Wherefore  also  it  is  contained  in  the  Scripture, 
Behold,  I  lay  in  Sion  a  chief  corner-stone,  elect,  precious  :  and 
he  that  believeth  on  him  shall  not  be  confounded. 

Unto  you  therefore  which  believe  he  is  precious  :  but  unto 
them  which  be  disobedient,  the  stone  which  the  builders  disal- 
lowed, the  same  is  made  the  head  of  the  cornere     I.  Pet.  ii.  6,  7. 


I  14  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

For  other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that  is  laid,  which  is 
Jesus  Christ.     I.  Cor.  iii   11. 

Leader.  What  Old  Testament  prophecies  of  Christ 
are  yet  unfulfihed  ? 

Teacher  of  Class  No.  30.  Of  the  increase  of  his  government 
and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end,  upon  the  throne  of  David,  and 
upon  his  kingdom,  to  order  it,  and  to  establish  it  with  judgment 
and  with  justice  from  henceforth  even  forever.  The  zeal  of  the 
Lord  of  hosts  will  perform  this.     Isa.  ix.  7. 

He  shall  have  dominion  also  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the 
river  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth.     Psalms  Ixxii.  8. 

Leader.  Are  these  reaffirmed  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment .? 

Class  N'o.  30.  He  shall  be  great,  and  shall  be  called  the  Son 
of  the  Highest :  and  the  Lord  God  shall  give  unto  him  the 
throne  of  his  father  David  :  ^ 

And  he  shall  reign  over  the  house  of  Jacob  forever  ;  and  of 
his  kingdom  there  shall  be  no  end.     Luke  i.  32,  33. 

Leader.  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin 
of  the  wof  Id  !     John.  i.  29. 

Assembly.  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  to  receive 
power,  and  riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  honor,  and 
glory,  and  blessing.     Rev.  v.  12. 

AIL  Blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  power,  be  unto  him 
that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and 
ever.     Rev.  v.  13. 


LESSON     III. 

THIRTY  PROMINENT   EVENTS  IN   CONNECTION  WITH  THE 
LIFE  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

OPENING      SENTENCES. 

Leader.     Dost  thou  believe  on  the  Son  of  God  ?    John  ix.  35. 

Assembly.  Lord,  I  believe  ;  help  thou  mine  unbelief.  Mark 
ix.  24. 

Leader.  Unto  you  therefore  which  believe  he  is  precious. 
I.  Peter  ii   7. 

SCRIPTURE   READINGS. 

To  be  read  responsively  by  leader  and  assembly  : 

Psalm  ii. 

To  be  read  elliptically,  as  explained  on  page  47. 
Acts  X.  34-43- 

CHANT. 
Luke  i.  68-72. 

HYMN. 

How  precious  is  the  story 

Of  our  Redeemer's  birth. 

\_HapPy  Voices,  p.  26. 

Thou  dear  Redeemer,  dying  Lamb, 

I  love  to  hear  of  thee. 

\_Song  Flowers,  P,  76. 

Jesus  is  our  dearest  friend, 

So  tender,  tried  and  true. 

[Golden  Censer,  p.  34. 


Il6  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

Each  quoted  passage,  entire,  may  be  recited  by  a 
single  class  in  concert ;  or  each  member  of  the  class 
may  recite  a  single  text  of  the  passage,  until  all  are 
given  ;  or  each  teacher  may  recite  a  portion,  and  his 
class  the  remainder ;  or  in  any  other  way  the  lesson 
may  be  so  assigned  as  to  give  to  all  their  share,  accord- 
ing to  the  size  of  the  school. 

Leader.  What  is  said  in  the  word  of  God,  of  the 
rejoicing  in  heaven  over  the  birth  of  the  holy  child 
Jesus  ? 

Class  No.  I.  And  there  were  in  the  same  country  shepherds 
abiding  in  the  field,  keeping  watch  over  their  flock  by  night. 

And,  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon  them,  and  the  glory 
of  the  Lord  shone  round  about  them :  and  they  were  sore  afraid. 

And  the  angel  said  unto  them,  Fear  not :  for,  behold,  I  bring 
you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which  shall  be  to  all  people. 

For  unto  you  is  born  this  day  in  the  city  of  David  a  Saviour, 
which  is  Christ  the  Lord. 

And  this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  you  ;  Ye  shall  find  the  babe 
wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  lying  in  a  manger. 

And  suddenly  there  was  with  the  angel  a  multitude  of  the 
heavenly  host  praising  God,  and  saying, 

Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  to- 
ward men.     Luke  ii.  8-14. 

Leader.  What  is  said  of  the  welcome  given  to  the 
divine  child  by  some  of  the  wise  men  of  earth  ? 

Class  No.  2.  Now  when  Jesus  was  born  in  Bethlehem  of 
Judea,  in  the  days  of  Herod  the  king,  behold,  there  came  wise 
men  from  the  east  to  Jerusalem, 

Saying,  Where  is  he  that  is  born  King  of  the  Jews  ?  for  we 
have  seen  his  star  in  the  east,  and  are  come  to  worship  him. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  11/ 

And  when  they  were  come  into  the  house,  they  saw  the  young 
child  with  Mary  his  mother,  and  fell  down  and  worshiped  him  : 
and  when  they  had  opened  their  treasures,  they  presented  unto 
him  gifts  ;  gold,  and  frankincense,  and  myrrh.     Matt.  ii.  i,  2,  11. 

Leader,  What  is  the  record  of  his  exhibition  of 
heavenly  wisdom,  while  yet  but  a  child  ? 

Class  No.  3.  Now  his  parents  went  to  Jerusalem  every  year 
at  the  feast  of  the  passover. 

And  when  he  was  twelve  years  old,  they  went  up  to  Jerusa- 
lem, after  the  custom  of  the  feast. 

And  when  they  had  fulfilled  the  days,  as  they  returned,  the 
child  Jesus  tarried  behind  in  Jerusalem;  and  Joseph  and  his 
mother  knew  not  of  it. 

But  they,  supposing  him  to  have  been  in  the  company,  went  a 
day's  journey  ;  and  they  sought  him  among  their  kinsfolk  and 
acquaintance. 

And  when  they  found  him  not,  they  turned  back  again  to  Jeru- 
salem, seeking  him. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  after  three  days  they  found  him  in 
the  temple,  sitting  in  the  midst  of  the  doctors,  both  hearing 
them,  and  asking  them  questions. 

And  all  that  heard  him  were  astonished  at  his  understanding 
and  answers.     Luke  ii.  41-47. 

Leader.  In  what  spirit  did  Jesus  conduct  himself 
towards  his  parents  when  they  had  found  him  in  the 
temple  .'* 

Class  No.  4  And  he  went  down  with  them,  and  came  to  Naz- 
areth, and  was  subject  unto  them  :  but  his  mother  kept  all  these 
sayings  in  her  heart. 

And  Jesus  increased  in  wisdom  and  stature,  and  in  favour  with 
God  and  man.     Luke  ii.  51,  52. 

The  infant  class  rises,  and  recites  as  follows : 
Teacher.     Did  Christ  come  into  the  world  as  a  little 
child.? 


Il8  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Scholars.     Jesus  became  a  little  child, 

Holy  and  humble,  meek  and  mild. 

Teacher.     How  did  he  grow  up  ? 

Scholars.     In  wisdom  and  in  stature  too, 

The  holy  child,  our  Saviour  grew. 

\_Scriptural  Lessons. 

No  selfish  grief  he  ever  felt. 

No  anger  in  his  bosom  dwelt ; 

But  thoughts  of  love,  of  praise,  and  prayer, 

Like  cloudless  sunshine  rested  there. 

[  Tract  Primer. 

The  entire  assembly  rising,  a  hymn  is  sung  : 

Long  ago  the  Lord  of  glory 
Lived  on  earth  a  little  child. 

\_A  m.  S.  S.  Hymn  Book,  p.  306. 

Leader.  What  is  told  of  the  preparation  of  Jesus 
for  his  special  ministry  ? 

Class  No.  5.  And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that  Jesus 
came  from  Nazareth  of  Galilee,  and  was  baptized  of  John  in 
Jordan. 

And  straightway  coming  up  out  of  the  water,  he  saw  the 
heavens  opened,  and  the  Spirit  like  a  dove  descending  upon 
him  : 

And  there  came  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying.  Thou  art  my 
beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased.     Mark  i.  9-1 1. 

Leader.     Was  Jesus  ever  tempted  to  sin  ? 

Class  No.  6.  And  Jesus  being  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  returned 
from  Jordan,  and  was  led  by  the  Spirit  into  the  wilderness. 

Being  forty  days  tempted  of  the  devil.     Luke  iv.  i,  2. 

In  all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin.  Heb. 
iv.  15. 

For  in  that  he  himself  hath  suffered  being  tempted,  he  is  able 
to  succour  them  that  are  tempted.     Heb.  ii.  18. 


THE    CHILDREN'S    BIBLE   SERVICE.  II9 

Leader.  What  is  recorded  of  the  commencement  of 
his  pubHc  ministry  ? 

Class  No.  7,  Now  when  Jesus  had  heard  that  John  was  cast 
into  prison,  he  departed  into  Galilee  ; 

From  that  time  Jesus  began  to  preach,  and  to  say,  Repent  : 
for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.     Matt,  iv.  12,  17. 

And  he  came  to  Nazareth,  where  he  had  been  brought  up : 
and,  as  his  custom  was,  he  went  into  the  synagogue  on  the  sab- 
bath-day, and  stood  up  for  to  read.     Luke  iv.  16. 

Leader.     In  Matthew  xi.  2,  3,  we  are  told  : 

Now  when  John  had  heard  in  the  prison  the  works  of  Christ, 
he  sent  two  of  his  disciples, 

And  said  unto  him.  Art  thou  he  that  should  come,  or  do  we 
look  for  another  ? 

Will  you  tell  me  what  answer  Jesus  sent  back  to 
John? 

The  entire  assembly  rises  and  responds  : 

Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Go  and  shew  John  again 
those  things  which  ye  do  hear  and  see  : 

The  blind  receive  their  sight,  and  the  lame  walk,  the  lepers 
are  cleansed,  and  the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  are  raised  up,  and  the 
poor  have  the  gospel  preached  to  them.     Matt.  xi.  4,  5. 

Leader.  Will  you  give  an  instance  of  Christ's  heal- 
ing of  the  sick  ? 

Class  No.  8.  And  he  arose  out  of  the  synagogue,  and  entered 
into  Simon's  house.  And  Simon's  wife's  mother  was  taken  with 
a  great  fever  ;  and  they  besought  him  for  her. 

And  he  stood  over  her,  and  rebuked  the  fever  ;  and  it  left  her : 
and  immediately  she  arose  and  ministered  unto  them. 

Now  when  the  sun  was  setting,  all  they  that  had  any  sick 
with  divers  diseases  brought  them  unto  him ;  and  he  laid 
his  hands  on  every  one  of  them,  and  healed  them.  Luke  iv. 
38-40. 


120  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Leader.  Can  you  tell  of  his  restoring  sight  to  the 
blind  ? 

Class  No.  g.  And  when  Jesus  departed  thence,  tvvobhnd  men 
followed  him,  crying,  and  saying.  Thou  Son  of  David,  have 
mercy  on  us. 

And  when  he  was  come  into  the  house,  the  blind  men  came 
to  him :  and  Jesus  saith  unto  them.  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to 
do  this  ?     They  said  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord. 

Then  touched  he  their  eyes,  saying.  According  to  your  faith  be 
it  unto  you. 

And  their  eyes  were  opened  ;  and  Jesus  straitly  charged  them, 
saying,  See  that  no  man  know  it.     Matt.  ix.  27-30. 

Leader.  Is  there  any  mention  of  his  making  the 
lame  to  walk .-' 

Class  No.  ID.  And  they  come  unto  him,  bringing  one  sick  of 
the  palsy,  which  w^as  borne  of  four. 

And  when  they  could  not  come  nigh  unto  him  for  the  press, 
they  uncovered  the  roof  where  he  was  :  and  when  they  had 
broken  it  up,  they  let  down  the  bed  wherein  the  sick  of  the  palsy 
lay. 

When  Jesus  saw  their  faith,  he  said  unto  the  sick  of  the  palsy, 
Son,  thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee. 

I  say  unto  thee,  Arise,  and  take  up  thy  bed,  and  go  thy  way 
into  thine  house. 

And  immediately  he  arose,  took  up  the  bed,  and  went  forth 
before  them  all ;  insomuch  that  they  were  all  amazed,  and  glori- 
fied God,  saying.  We  never  saw  it  on  this  fashion.  Mark  ii. 
3-5'  ii»  12. 

Leader.     Did  Jesus  ever  cleanse  a  leper  ? 

Class  No.  1 1 .  And  there  came  a  leper  to  him,  beseeching  him, 
and  kneeling  down  to  him,  and  saying  unto  him.  If  thou  wilt, 
thou  canst  make  me  clean. 

And  Jesus,  moved  with  compassion,  put  forth  his  hand,  and 
touched  him,  and  saith  unto  him.  I  will  :  be  thou  clean. 


THE    CHILDREN  S   ^IBLE    SERVICE.  121 

And  as  soon  as  he  had  spoken,  immediately  the  leprosy  de- 
parted from  him,  and  he  was  cleansed.     Mark  i.  40-42. 

Leader.  Do  you  recall  the  story  of  his  restoring 
hearing  and  speech  to  the  deaf  and  dumb  1 

Class  No.  12.  And  they  bring  unto  him  one  that  was  deaf,  and 
had  an  impediment  in  his  speech  ;  and  they  beseech  him  to  put 
his  hand  upon  him. 

And  he  took  him  aside  from  the  multitude,  and  put  his  fingers 
into  his  ears,  and  he  spit,  and  touched  his  tongue ; 

And  looking  up  to  heaven,  he  sighed,  and  saith  unto  him, 
Ephphatha,  that  is,  Be  opened. 

And  straightway  his  ears  were  opened,  and  the  string  of  his 
tongue  was  loosed,  and  he  spake  plain.     Mark  vii.  32-35. 

Leader.  Is  any  instance  recorded  of  his  raising  the 
dead  to  life  ? 

Class  No.  13.  Then  they  took  away  the  stone  firom  the  place 
where  the  dead  was  laid.  And  Jesus  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  said, 
Father,  I  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  heard  me. 

And  1  knew  that  thou  hearest  me  always  :  but  because  of  the 
people  which  stand  by  I  said  it,  that  they  may  believe  that  thou 
hast  sent  me. 

And  when  he  thus  had  spoken,  he  cried  with  a  loud  voice, 
Lazarus,  come  forth. 

And  he  that  was  dead  came  forth,  bound  hand  and  foot  with 
grave-clothes  :  and  his  face  was  bound  about  with  a  napkin. 
Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Loose  him,  and  let  him  go.    John  xi.  41-44. 

Leader.  What  is  the  record  of  his  preaching  to  the 
poor? 

Class  No.  14.  And  he  taught  in  their  synagogues,  being  glo- 
rified of  all.     Luke  iv.  15. 

And  the  common  people  heard  him  gladly.     Mark  xii.  37. 

The  pastor,  if  present,  may  add : 

My  brethren,  have  not  the  faith  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 

Lord  of  glory,  with  respect  of  persons. 
6 


122  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

If  ye  fulfil  the  royal  law  according  to  the  Scripture,  Thou  shalt 
love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself,  ye  do  well  ; 

But  if  ye  have  respect  to  persons,  ye  commit  sin,  and  are  con- 
vinced of  the  law  as  transgressors.     James  ii.  i,  8,  9. 

Leader.  Are  any  incidents  given  which  go  to  show 
our  Saviour's  habit  of  prayer  ? 

Class  No.  15.  And  in  the  morning,  rising  up  a  great  while 
before  day,  he  went  out.  and  departed  into  a  solitary  place,  and 
there  prayed.     Mark  i,  35. 

And  when  he  had  sent  the  multitudes  away,  he  went  up  into  a 
mountain  apart  to  pray  ;  and  when  the  evening  was  come  he 
was  there  alone.     Matt.  xiv.  23. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that  he  went  out  into  a 
mountain  to  pray,  and  continued  all  night  in  prayer  to  God. 
Luke  vi.  12.  , 

Leader.     What  is  the  record  of  his  transfiguration  ? 

Class  No.  16.  And  after  six  days  Jesus  taketh  Peter,  James, 
and  John  his  brother,  and  bringeth  them  up  into  a  high  moun- 
tain apart. 

And  was  transfigured  before  them :  and  his  face  did  shine  as 
the  sun,  and  his  raiment  was  white  as  the  light. 

And,  behold,  there  appeared  unto  them  Moses  and  Elias  talk- 
ing with  him. 

Then  answered  Peter  and  said  unto  Jesus,  Lord,  it  is  good  for 
us  to  be  here  :  if  thou  wilt,  let  us  make  here  tliree  tabernacles  ; 
one  for  thee,  and  one  for  Moses,  and  one  for  Elias. 

While  he  yet  spake,  behold,  a  bright  cloud  overshadowed 
them  :  and  behold  a  voice  out  of  the  cloud,  which  said.  This  is 
my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased  ;  hear  ye  him. 
Matt,  xvii,  1-5. 

Leader.  Did  Jesus  on  any  occasion  assume  to  for- 
give sin  ? 

Class  No.  17.  When  Jesus  saw  their  faith  he  said  unto  the 
sick  of  the  palsy.  Son,  thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee.     Mark  ii.  5. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 


123 


Wherefore  I  say  unto  thee,  Her  sins,  which  are  many,  are 
forgiven ;  for  she  loved  much :  but  to  vv^hom  little  is  forgiven, 
the  same  loveth  little. 

And  he  said  unto  her.  Thy  sins  are  forgiven.     Luke  vii.  47, 48. 

Leader.  How  did  Jesus  show  his  love  for  httle 
children  ? 

Class  No.  18.  And  they  brought  young  children  to  him,  that 
he  should  touch  them ;  and  his  disciples  rebuked  those  that 
brought  them. 

But  when  Jesus  saw  it,  he  was  much  displeased,  and  said  unto 
them,  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid 
them  not :  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God. 

Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Whosoever  shall  not  receive  the  king- 
dom of  God  as  a  little  child,  he  shall  not  enter  therein. 

And  he  took  them  up  in  his  arms,  put  his  hands  upon  them, 
and  blessed  them.     Mark  x.  13-16. 

The  infant  class  recites : 

Teacher.  Did  Jesus  show  love  to  children  while  on 
earth  ? 

Scholars.     The  little  ones  he  took  and  blest, 

And  clasp'd  them  to  his  tender  breast. 

Teacher.     What  did  Jesus  say  about  little  children  ? 

Scholars      Suffer  the  young  to  come  to  me  ; 

Of  such  the  saints  in  heaven  shall  be. 

Teacher.     Does  he  still  regard  the  young  ? 

Scholars.     Though  on  his  glorious  throne  above, 
Children  he  still  regards  with  love. 

Teacher.     Will  God  hear  the  praises  of  children  ? 

Scholars.     Yes !  God  will  hear  the  hymns  they  raise. 
And  Jesus  loves  an  infant's  praise. 

{Scriptural  Lessons. 


124  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

All  rising,  a  hymn  is  sung  : 

Around  the  throne  of  God  in  heaven 

Ten  thousand  children  stand. 

[Golden  Chain,  p.  ii8. 

Leader.  Do  you  remember  the  story  of  the  tri- 
umphal entry  of  Jesus  into  Jerusalem  ? 

Class  No.  19.  And  they  brought  the  colt  to  Jesus,  and  cast 
their  garments  on  him  ;  and  he  sat  upon  him. 

And  many  spread  their  garments  in  the  way  ;  and  others  cut 
down  branches  off  the  trees,  and  strewed  them  in  the  way. 

And  they  that  went  before,  and  they  that  followed,  cried,  say- 
ing, Hosanna ;  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  : 

Blessed  be  the  kingdom  of  our  father  David,  that  cometh  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  :  Hosanna  in  the  highest.     Mark.  xi.  7-10. 

Leader.  In  what  incident  did  Jesus  give  an  exam- 
ple of  humility  to  his  followers  ? 

Class  No  20.  He  riseth  from  supper,  and  laid  aside  his  gar- 
ments ;  and  took  a  towel,  and  girded  himself. 

After  that  he  poureth  water  into  a  basin,  and  began  to  wash 
the  disciples'  feet,  and  to  wipe  them  with  the  towel  wherewith  he 
was  girded. 

So  after  he  had  washed  their  feet,  and  had  taken  his  garments, 
and  was  set  down  again,  he  said  unto  them,  Know  ye  what  I  have 
done  to  you  ? 

Ye  call  me  Master  and  Lord  :  and  ye  say  well ;  for  so  I  am. 

If  I  then,  your  Lord  and  Master,  have  washed  your  feet ;  ye 
also  ought  to  wash  one  another's  feet.     John  xiii.  4,  5,  12-14. 

Leader.  Will  you  recite  the  record  of  his  institution 
of  the  Memorial  Supper } 

Class  No.  21.  Now  when  the  even  was  come,  he  sat  down  with 
the  twelve. 

And  as  they  were  eating,  lesus  took  bread  and  blessed  it,  and 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  12$ 

brake  it,  and  gave  it  to  the  disciples,  and  said.  Take,  eat ;  this  is 
my  body. 

And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks,  and  gave  it  to  them; 
saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  it ; 

For  this  is  my  blood  of  the  new  testament,  v^rhich  is  shed  for 
many  for  the  remission  of  sins. 

But  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  not  drink  henceforth  of  this  fruit  of 
the  vine,  until  that  day  when  I  drink  It  new  with  you  in  my 
Father's  kingdom.     Matt-  xxvi.  20,  26-29. 

Leader.  What  are  we  told  of  his  agony  in  Geth- 
semane  ? 

Class  No.  22.  And  he  was  withdrawn  from  them  about  a 
stone's  cast,  and  kneeled  down,  and  prayed. 

Saying,  Father,  if  thou  be  willing,  remove  this  cup  from  me : 
nevertheless,  not  my  will,  but  thine,  be  done. 

And  there  appeared  an  angel  unto  him  from  heaven,  strength- 
ening him. 

And  being  in  an  agony  he  prayed  more  earnestly  :  and  his 
sweat  was  as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood  falling  down  to  the 
ground.     Luke  xxii.  41-44. 

Leadei'.     How  and  by  whom  was  Jesus  betrayed  t 

Class  No.  23.  And  immediately,  while  he  yet  spake,  coiPiCth  Ju- 
das, one  of  the  twelve,  and  with  him  a  great  multitude  with  swords 
and  staves,  from  the  chief  priests  and  the  scribes  and  the  elders. 

And  he  that  had  betrayed  him  had  given  them  a  token,  saying, 
Whomsoever  I  shall  kiss,  that  same  is  he ;  take  him,  and  lead 
him  away  safely. 

And  as  soon  as  he  was  come,  he  goeth  straightway  to  him,  and 
saith.  Master,  master  ;  and  kissed  him. 

And  they  laid  their  hands  on  him,  and  took  him.  Mark  xiv. 
43-46. 

Leader.  Did  the  other  disciples  of  Jesus  remain 
with  him  in  the  hour  of  his  betrayal  by  Judas  ? 

Class  No.  24.     Then  all  th&  disciples  forsook  him,  and  fled. 


126  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

And  they  that  had  laid  hold  on  Jesus  led  him  away  to  Caia- 
phas  the  high  priest,  where  the  scribes  and  the  elders  were  as- 
sembled. 

But  Peter  followed  him  afar  off  unto  the  high  priest's  palace, 
and  went  in,  and  sat  with  the  servants,  to  see  the  end. 

Now  Peter  sat  without  in  the  palace  :  and  a  damsel  came  unto 
him,  saying,  Thou  also  wast  with  Jesus  of  Galilee. 

But  he  denied  before  them  all,  saying,  I  know  not  what  thou 
sayest.     Matt.  xxvi.  56-58,  69,  70. 

Leader.  In  what  way  was  Jesus  treated  after  his 
arrest  and  trial  ? 

Class  N'o.  25.  Then  the  soldiers  of  the  governor  took  Jesus 
into  the  common  hall,  and  gathered  unto  him  the  whole  band  01 
soldiers. 

And  they  stripped  him,  and  put  on  him  a  scarlet  robe. 

And  when  they  had  platted  a  crown  of  thorns,  they  put  it  upon 
his  head,  and  a  reed  in  his  right  hand  :  and  they  bowed  the  knee 
before  him,  and  mocked  him,  saying.  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews  ! 

And  they  spit  upon  him,  and  took  the  reed,  and  smote  him  on 
the  head. 

And  after  that  they  had  mocked  him,  they  took  the  robe  oiT 
from  him,  and  put  his  own  raiment  on  him,  and  led  him  away  to 
crucify  him.     Matt,  xxvii.  27-31. 

Leader.     Will  you  give  the  record  of  his  crucifixion  "i 

Class  No.  26.  And  when  they  were  come  to  the  place,  which  is 
called  Calvary,  there  they  crucified  him,  and  the  malefactors, 
one  on  the  right  hand,  and  the  other  on  the  left. 

And  a  superscription  also  was  written  over  him  in  letters  of 
Greek,  and  Latin,  and  Hebrew,  this  is  the  king  of  the 
JEWS.     Luke  xxiii.  33,  38. 

Leader.     What  is  said  of  the  burial  of  Jesus  ? 

Class  No.  27.  When  the  even  was  come,  there  came  a  rich 
man  of  Arimathea,  named  Joseph,  who  also  himself  was  Jesus' 
disciple  ; 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  12/ 

He  went  to  Pilate,  and  begged  the  body  of  Jesus.  Then  Pilate 
commanded  the  body  to  be  delivered. 

And  when  Joseph  had  taken  the  body,  he  wrapped  it  in  a  clean 
linen  cloth,  and  laid  it  in  his  own  new  tomb,  which  he  had  hewn 
out  in  the  rock  :  and  he  rolled  a  great  stone  to  the  door  of  the 
sepulchre,  and  departed.     Matt,  xxvii.  57-60. 

Leader.     Did  Jesus  remain  in  the  tomb  ? 

Class  No.  28.  And  very  early  in  the  morning,  the  first  day  of 
the  week,  they  came  unto  the  sepulchre  at  the  rising  of  the  sun. 

And  they  said  among  themselves.  Who  shall  roll  us  away  the 
stone  from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre  .? 

And  when  they  looked,  they  saw  that  the  stone  was  rolled 
away  :  for  it  was  very  great. 

And  entering  into  the  sepulchre,  they  saw  a  young  man  sitting 
on  the  right  side,  clothed  in  a  long  white  garment ;  and  they 
were  affrighted. 

And  he  saith  unto  them,  Be  not  affrighted :  ye  seek  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  which  was  crucified  :  he  is  risen ;  he  is  not  here  :  be- 
hold the  place  where  they  laid  him.     Mark  xvi.  2-6. 

Leader.  Did  the  disciples  see  Jesus  after  his  res- 
urrection t 

Class  N'o.  29.  Now  when  Jesus  was  risen  early  the  first  day 
of  the  week,  he  appeared  first  to  Mary  Magdalene,  out  of  whom 
he  had  cast  seven  devils. 

After  that  he  appeared  in  another  form  unto  tv/o  of  them,  as 
they  walked,  and  went  into  the  country. 

Afterward  he  appeared  unto  the  eleven  as  they  sat  at  meat, 
and  upbraided  them  with  their  unbelief  and  hardness  of  heart, 
because  they  believed  not  them  which  had  seen  him  after  he  was 
risen.     Mark  xvi.  9,  12,  14. 

To  whom  also  he  showed  himself  alive  after  his  passion 
by  many  infallible  proofs,  being  seen  of  them  forty  days,  and 
speaking  of  the  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God. 
Acts  i.  3. 


128  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Leader.  What  is  the  closing  record  of  the  life  of 
Jesus  on  earth  ? 

Class  No.  30.  And  he  led  them  out  as  far  as  to  Bethany,  and 
he  lifted  up  his  hands,  and  blessed  them. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  while  he  blessed  them,  he  was  parted 
from  them,  and  carried  up  into  heaven. 

And  they  worshiped  him,  and  returned  to  Jerusalem  with 
great  joy  : 

And  were  continually  in  the  temple,  praising  and  blessing 
God.     Amen.     Luke  xxiv.  50-53. 

Leader.     Are  these  all  the  incidents  in  the  life  of 
Jesus  on  earth  ? 
All,  rising,  recite  : 

And  there  are  also  many  other  things  which  Jesus  did,  the 
which,  if  they  should  be  written  every  one,  I  suppose  that  even 
the  world  itself  could  not  contain  the  books  that  should  be  writ- 
ten.    John  xxi.  25. 

The  leader  responds  : 

But  these  are  written,  that  ye  might  believe  that  Jesus  is  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  that  believing  ye  might  have  life 
through  his  name.     John  xx.  31. 

The  pastor  may  add  :* 

God,  who  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners  spake  in  time 
past  unto  the  fathers  by  the  prophets. 

Hath  in  these  last  days  spoken  unto  us  by  his  Son,  whom  he  hath 
appointed  heir  of  all  things,  by  whom  also  he  made  the  worlds ; 

Who  being  the  brightness  of  his  glory,  and  the  express  image 
of  his  person,  and  upholding  all  things  by  the  word  of  his  power, 
when  he  had  by  himself  purged  our  sins,  sat  down  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high.     Heb.  i.  1-3. 

Therefore  we  ought  to  give  the  more  earnest  heed  to  the  things 
which  we  have  heard,  lest  at  any  time  we  should  let  them  slip. 
Heb.  ii.  I. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 29 

All,  rising,  respond : 

Let  us  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  us,  looking 
unto  Jesus  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.     Heb.  xii.  i,  2. 

The  assembly  still  standing,  a  closing  hymn  is  smig : 

O  for  a  thousand  tongues  to  sing 
My  great  Redeemer's  praise. 

It  may  be  well  for  the  leader  to  ask  such  occasional 
questions,  in  the  course  of  the  toregoing  lesson,  as  will 
bring  out  the  explanation  of  points  not  likely  to  be  un- 
derstood by  all.  For  instance  :  To  Class  No.  7,  What 
was  a  synagogue.?  To  Class  No.  11,  What  was  a 
leper.'*  To  Class  No.  1 6,  What  is  the  meaning  of 
transfiguration .''  To  Class  No.  26,  What  was  the  mode 
of  crucifixion  ?  To  Class  No.  28,  How  long  did  Jesus 
remain  in  the  tomb  ?  etc.,  etc. 

If  the  lesson  entire  is  deemed  too  long  for  a  single 
exercise,  or  if  there  are  too  many  texts  for  a  small 
school,  it  may  easily  be  shortened  by  the  omission  of 
some  of  the  Scripture  incidents. 


6* 


LESSON   IV. 

THE    HOLY    GHOST HIS    TITLES,    EMBLEMS,    OFFICES, 

AND    WORK. 

[Arranged  from  an  exercise  prepared  for  the  Congregational  Church  Sunday 
School,  Saybrook,  Conn.,  by  Mrs.  S.  J.  McCall.] 

OPENING   SENTENCES. 

Leader.  God  hath  from  the  beginning  chosen  you  to  salva- 
tion, through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit,  and  belief  of  the  truth. 
II.  Thess.  ii.  13. 

Assembly.  The  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by 
the  Holy  Ghost.     Romans  xv.  16. 

All.  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God  ;  and  renew  a  right 
spirit  within  me. 

Cast  me  not  away  from  thy  presence  ;  and  take  not  thy  Holy 
Spirit  from  me.     Psalms  li.  10,  11. 

SCRIPTURE   READING. 

In  alternation  by  leader  and  assembly  : 
Isaiah  xi.  1-9. 

HYMN. 

Gracious  Spirit,  love  divine  ! 

Let  thy  light  within  me  shine. 

\^Song  Flowers,  p.  13. 

GENERAL    EXERCISES, 

[For  a  Golden  Text,  used  as  designated  on  page  68, 
the  words  Convert  and  Renew,  in  their  various  forms, 
may  be  announced.] 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  I3I 

Leader.  What  is  the  first  mention  in  the  Bible  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  ? 

Class  No.  I .  And  the  earth  was  without  form,  and  void ;  and 
darkness  was  upon  the  face  of  the  deep.  And  the  Spirit  of  God 
moved  upon  the  face  of  the  waters.     Gen.  i.  2. 

Leader.  Is  the  Spirit  of  God  called  by  any  other 
title,  or  name,  in  the  Scriptures  ? 

Class  No.  2.  For  there  are  three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
the  Father,  the  Wordpand  the  Holy  Ghost  :  and  these  three  are 
one.     I.  John  v.  7. 

Leader.     Any  other  title  ? 

Class  No.  3.  But  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy  Ghost, 
whom  the  Father  will  send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all 
things,  and  bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance,  whatsoever  I 
have  said  unto  you.     John  xiv.  26. 

Leader.     Any  other  'i 

Class  No.  4.  And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you 
another  Comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with  you  for  ever  ; 

Even  the  Spirit  of  truth  ;  whom  the  world  cannot  receive, 
because  it  seeth  him  not,  neither  knoweth  him :  but  ye  know  him ; 
for  he  dwelleth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in  you.     John  xiv.  16,  17. 

Leader.     Has  he  yet  another  title  t 

Class  No.  5.  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good 
gifts  unto  your  children  :  how  much  more  shall  your  heavenly 
Father  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him  ?   Luke  xi.  13. 

The  infant  class,  rising,  recite  as  follows  : 

Teacher.  Does  God  know  all  you  do  and  say  t 

Scholars.  Yes  :  and  my  thoughts  too,  night  and  day. 

Teacher.  Have  you  an  evil  heart  within  ? 

Scholars.  Yes  :  or  I  should  not  always  sin. 

Teacher.  How  does  your  heart  its  evil  show  ? 

Scholars.  By  sinful  words  and  actions  too. 


132  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Teacher.     And  does  not  sin  God's  anger  move  ? 
Scholars.     Yes  :  for  I  sin  against  his  love. 
Teacher.     What  wages  then  must  sin  obtain  ? 
Scholars.     Present  and  everlasting  pain. 
Teacher.     And  can  you  save  yourself  from  woe .'' 
Scholars.     I  cannot  save  myself,  I  know. 
Teacher.     Who  can  your  sinful  heart  renew  ? 
Scholars.     God's  Spirit  only  makes  it  new. 
Teacher.     Who  only  can  direct  your  youth  ? 
Scholars.     The  Holy  Spirit,  God  of  truth.      [Scrijitural  Lessor. 
The  assembly  rising,  a  hymn  is  sung: 
Glory  to  the  Father  give — 
Praise  him,  and  adore.  [Ha^j>y  Voices,  p.  178. 

Leader.  The  Holy  Spirit  is  likened  in  the  Scriptures 
to  a  variety  of  emblems.  Do  you  recall  where  he  is 
likened  to  the  wmd? 

Class  No.  6.  The  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou 
hearest  the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  whence  it  cometh, 
and  whither  it  goeth  :  so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit. 
John  iii.  8. 

And  when  the  day  of  Pentecost  was  fully  come,  they  were  all 
with  one  accord  in  one  place. 

And  suddenly  there  came  a  sound  from  heaven  as  of  a  rushing 

mighty  wind,  and  it  filled  all  the  house  where  they  were  sitting. 

And  they  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  began  to 

speak  with  other  tongues,  as  the  Spirit  gave  them  utterance. 

Acts  ii.  I,  2,  4. 

The  Spirit  like  some  heavenly  wind, 

Blows  on  the  sons  of  flesh. 

New  models  all  the  carnal  mind, 

And  forms  the  man  afresh. 

Leader.  Can  you  recite  any  passage  wherein  the 
Spirit  is  likened  to  water  ? 

Class  N'o.  7.     But  whosoever  drinketh  of  the  water  that  I  shall 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 33 

give  him  shall  never  thirst ;  but  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him 
shall  be  in  him  a  well  of  water  springing  up  into  everlasting  life. 
John  iv,  14. 

(But  this  spake  he  of  the  Spirit,  which  they  that  believe  on 
him  should  receive  :  for  the  Holy  Ghost  was  not  yet  given  ;  be- 
cause that  Jesus  was  not  yet  glorified.)     John  vii.  39. 
His  love  within  us,  shed  abroad, 

Life's  ever-springing  well ; 
Till  God  in  us,  and  we  in  God, 
In  love  eternal  dwell. 

Leader.     Is  the  Spirit  further  Ukened  to  rain  ? 

Class  No.  8.  Then  shall  we  know,  if  we  follow  on  to  know 
the  Lord :  his  going  forth  is  prepared  as  the  morning  ;  and  he 
shall  come  unto  us  as  the  rain,  as  the  latter  and  former  rain  unto 
the  earth.     Hos.  vi.  3. 

He  shall  come  down  like  rain  upon  the  mown  grass  :  as 
showers  that  water  the  earth.     Psalms  Ixxii.  6. 

As  when,  in  silence,  vernal  showers 
Descend,  and  cheer  the  fainting  flowers, 
So,  in  the  secrecy  of  love, 
Falls  the  sweet  influence  from  above. 

Leader.     Is  he  anywhere  hkened  to  the  dewl 
Class  No.  9.     For  so  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  I  will  take  my 
rest,  and  I  will  consider  in  my  dwelling-place  like  a  clear  heat 
upon  herbs,  and  like  a  cloud  of  dew  in  the  heat  of  harvest.     Isa. 
xviii.  4. 

I  will  be  as  the  dew  unto  Israel  :  he  shall  grow  as  the  lily, 
and  cast  forth  his  roots  as  Lebanon.     Hos.  xiv.  5. 
Like  the  dew  thy  peace  distill, 
Guide,  subdue  our  wayward  will. 
Things  of  Christ,  unfolding  still, 
Comforter,  Divine. 
Leader.     In  what  passages  is  he  spoken  of  as  fire  ? 
Class  No.  ID,     I  indeed  baptize  you  with  water  unto  repent- 


134        THE  children's  bible  service. 

ance  :  but  he  that  cometh  after  me  is  mightier  than  I,  whose 
shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  bear  :  he  shall  baptize  you  with  tht 
Holy  Ghost,  and  with  fire.     Matt.  iii.  ii. 

And  there  appeared  unto  them  cloven  tongues,  like  as  of  fire, 
and  it  sat  upon  each  of  them. 
And  they  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost.     Acts  ii.  3,  4. 
Eternal  Spirit,  source  of  light, 

Enlivening,  consecrating  fire, 
Descend,  and  with  celestial  heat 

Our  dull  and  frozen  hearts  inspire, 
Our  souls  refine,  our  dross  consume  : 
Come,  condescending  Spirit,  come  ! 
Leader.     Where  is  he  hkened  to  a?ioifiting  oil  ? 
Class  No.  1 1 .     The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me ;  be- 
cause the  Lord  hath  anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  unto 
the  meek ;  he  hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted,  to 
proclaim  liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to 
them  that  are  bound.     Isa.  Ixi.  i. 

But  ye  have  an  unction  from  the  Holy  One,  and  ye  know  all 
things. 

But  the  anointing  which  ye  have  received  of  him  abideth  in 
you  :  and  ye  need  not  that  any  man  teach  you  :  but  as  the  same 
anointing  teacheth  you  of  all  things,  and  is  truth,  and  is  no  lie, 
and  even  as  it  hath  taught  you,  ye  shall  abide  in  him.  I.  John 
ii.  20,  27. 

Great' Comforter  !  to  thee  we  cry  ; 
O  highest  gift  of  God  most  high  ! 
O  fount  of  life  !  O  fire  of  love  ! 
Send  sweet  anointing  from  above  ! 
Leader.     Can   you   recite    any   texts  in  which  the 
Spirit  is  referred  to  as  a  seal  ? 

Class  No.  12.  In  whom  ye  also  trusted,  after  that  ye  heard  the 
word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of  your  salvation  :  in  whom  also,  after 
that  ye  believed,  ye  were  sealed  with  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise. 
Eph.  i.  13. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 35 

Now  he  which  stablisheth  us  with  you  in  Christ,  and  hath 
anointed  us,  is  God  ; 

Who  hath  also  sealed  us,  and  given  the  earnest  of  the  Spirit 
in  our  hearts.     II.  Cor.  i.  21,  22. 

And  grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  whereby  ye  are  sealed 
unto  the  day  of  redemption.     Eph.  iv.  30. 

Dost  thou  not  dwell  in  all  the  saints, 

And  seal  the  heirs  of  heaven  ? 
When  wilt  thou  banish  my  complaints, 

And  show  my  sins  forgiven  ? 

Leader.  Is  the  Spirit  likened  in  any  passage  to  a 
dove? 

Class  No,  13.  And  Jesus,  when  he  was  baptized,  went  up 
straightway  out  of  the  water  :  and,  lo,  the  heavens  were  opened 
unto  him,  and  he  saw  the  Spirit  of  God  descending  like  a  dove, 
and  lighting  upon  him.     Matt.  iii.  16. 

Come,  gracious  Spirit,  heavenly  Dove, 
With  light  and  comfort  from  above. 
Be  thou  our  guardian,  thou  our  guide, 
O'er  every  thought  and  step  preside. 

Leader.  Is  any  mention  made  of  the  Spirit  as  a 
voice  ? 

Class  No.  14.  But  when  they  deliver  you  up,  take  no  thought 
how  or  what  ye  shall  speak  :  for  it  shall  be  given  you  in  that 
same  hour  what  ye  shall  speak. 

For  it  is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Spirit  of  your  Father  which 
speaketh  in  you.     Matt.  x.  19,  20. 

David  the  son  of  Jesse  said,  and  the  man  who  was  raised  up 
on  high,  the  anointed  of  the  God  of  Jacob,  and  the  sweet  psalmist 
of  Israel,  said. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  spake  by  me,  and  his  word  was  in  my 
tongue.     II.  Samuel  xxiii.  i,  2. 


136  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Blest  Comforter  divine ! 

Let  rays  of  heavenly  love 
Amid  our  gloom  and  darkness  shine, 

And  guide  our  souls  above. 

Turn  us,  with  gentle  voice, 

From  every  sinful  way, 
And  bid  the  mourning  saint  rejoice. 

Though  earthly  joys  decay. 

Leader.  And  now  that  we  have  heard  of  the  titles 
and  emblems  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  let  us  inquire  of  his 
offices  and  work.  Where  is  he  named  as  inviting  the 
sinner  to  Jesus  t 

Class  No.  15.  And  the  Spirit  and  the  bride  say,  Come.  And 
let  him  that  heareth  say.  Come.  And  let  him  that  is  athirst 
come.  And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely. 
Rev.  xxii.  17. 

Leader.  Where  is  he  named  as  regenerating  those 
who  yield  to  his  entreaties  ? 

Class  No.  16.  Jesus  answered.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee 
Except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  en- 
ter into  the  kingdom  of  God. 

That  which  is  born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh;  and  that  which  is  born 
of  the  Spirit  is  spirit.     John  iii.  5,  6. 

Not  by  works  of  righteousness  which  we  have  done,  but  ac- 
cording to  his  mercy  he  saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  regenera- 
tion, and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Titus  iii.  5. 

Leader.  Where  is  he  spoken  of  as  the  teacher  of 
the  saints  ? 

Class  No.  1 7.  Now  we  have  received,  not  the  spirit  of  the 
world,  but  the  Spirit  which  is  of  God  ;  that  we  might  know  the 
things  that  are  freely  given  to  us  of  God. 

Which  things  also  we  sp^k,  not  in  the  words  which  man's 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 37 

wisdom  teacheth,  but  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth  ;  compar- 
ing spiritual  things  with  spiritual.     I.  Cor,  ii.  12,  13. 

For  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  teach  you  in  the  same  hour  what  you 
ought  to  say.     Luke  xii.  12. 

Leader.     Where  is  he  spoken  of  as  their  guide  t 
Class  No.  18.     Howbeit  when  he,  the  Spirit  of  truth,  is  come, 
he  will  guide  you  into  all  truth  :  for  he  shall  not  speak  of  him- 
self; but  whatsoever  ye  shall  hear,  that  shall  he  speak :  and  he 
will  shew  you  things  to  come.     John  xvi.  13. 

Leader.     Where  as  their  helper  1 

Class  No.  19.  Likewise  the  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmities : 
for  we  know  not  what  we  should  pray  for  as  we  ought :  but  the 
Spirit  itself  maketh  intercession  for  us  with  groanings  which  can- 
not be  uttered.     Romans  viii.  26. 

Leader.     Where  as  their  comfort  and  joy  t 
Class  No.  20.     But  when  the   Comforter   is    come,  whom  I 
will  send  unto  you  from  the  Father,  even  the  Spirit  of  truth, 
which   proceedeth  from    the    Father,   he   shall   testify   of  me. 
John  XV.  26. 

For  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  meat  and  drink  ;  but  righteous- 
ness, and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.     Romans  xiv.  17. 

Leader.  Is  the  Spirit  named  as  sanctifying  and 
making  holy  the  children  of  God  1 

Class  No.  21.  And  such  were  some  of  you :  but  ye  are 
washed,  but  ye  are  sanctified,  but  ye  are  justified  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  and  by  the  Spirit  of  our  God.     I.  Cor.  vi.  11. 

But  we  all,  with  open  face  beholding  as  in  a  glass  the  glory  of  the 
Lord,  are  changed  into  the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory,  even 
as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.     II.  Cor.  iii.  18. 

For  if  ye  live  after  the  flesh,  ye  shall  die :  but  if  ye  through  the 
Spirit  do  mortify  the  deeds  of  the  body,  ye  shall  live. 

For  as  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  they  are  the  sons 
of  God.     Romans  viii.  13,  14. 


138  THE    children's   BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Leader.  Is  the  Spirit  also  a  witness  to  the  saints 
that  they  are  Christ's  ? 

Class  No.  22.  And  it  is  the  Spirit  that  beareth  witness,  be- 
cause the  Spirit  is  truth.     I.  John  v.  6. 

The  Spirit  itself  beareth  witness  with  our  spirit,  that  we  are 
the  children  of  God  : 

And  if  children,  then  heirs  ;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint  heirs  with 
Christ.     Romans  viii.  16,  17. 

The  superintendent  says : 

But  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering, 
gentleness,  goodness,  faith. 

Meekness,  temperance  :  against  such  there  is  no  law. 

And  they  that  are  Christ's  have  crucified  the  flesh  with  the 
affections  and  lusts.     Gal.  v.  22-24. 

The  assembly,  in  concert,  recite : 

If  we  live  in  the  Spirit,  let  us  also  walk  in  the  Spirit. 
Let  us  not  be  desirous  of  vain-glory,  provoking  one  another, 
envying  one  another.     Gal.  v.  25,  26. 

The  pastor  may  add  : 

Wherefore,  I  give  you  to  understand,  that  no  man  speaking  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  calleth  Jesus  accursed  :  and  that  no  man  can 
say  that  Jesus  is  the  Lord,  but  by  the  Holy  Ghost.    I.  Cor.  xii.  3. 

Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found,  call  ye  upon  him 
while  he  is  near.     Isaiah  Iv.  6. 

A  hymn  is  sung  : 

The  Spirit  in  our  hearts 
Is  whispering,  sinner  come. 

\.So7ig  Flowers,  p,  89. 

Leader.  Will  the  Spirit  of  God  always  invite  to  sal- 
vation ? 

Class  No.  23.  And  the  Lord  said.  My  Spirit  shall  not  always 
strive  with  man.     Gen.  vi.  3. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 39 

Leader.  What  then  is  our  duty  towards  the  Spirit 
of  God  ? 

Class  No.  24.     Quench  not  the  Spirit.     I.  Thess.  v.  19. 

Wherefore  (as  the  Holy  Ghost  saith,  To-day,  if  ye  will  hear 
his  voice, 

Harden  not  your  hearts,  as  in  the  provocation,  in  the  day  of 
temptation  in  the  wilderness.^     Heb.  iii.  7,  8. 

Leader.  In  the  first  chapter  of  the  Bible  there  is 
mention  made  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  He  is  mentioned 
again  in  the  closing  chapter  of  the  Book  of  God.  The 
passage  has  already  been  recited.  Let  us  now  rise 
and  recite  it  together.  And  God  grant  that  each  soul 
here  may  consider  and  heed  the  Spirit's  invitation. 

All  rising,  recite  together : 

I  Jesus  have  sent  mine  angel  to  testify  unto  you  these  things 
in  the  churches.  I  am  the  root  and  the  offspring  of  David,  and 
the  bright  and  morning  star. 

And  the  Spirit  and  the  bride  say,  Come.  And  let  him  that 
heareth  say.  Come.  And  let  him  that  is  athirst  come.  And 
whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely.  Rev.  xxii. 
16,  17. 

The  service  closes  with  the  singing  of  the  hymn : 

Come,  Holy  Spirit,  heavenly  Dove  ! 
With  all  thy  quickening  powers. 


LESSON    V. 

THE     HOLY    SCRIPTURES. 
(Arranged  by  W.  I.  Fletcher,  S.  S.  Missionary  for  Connecticut.) 

For  opening  exercises,  the  schedules  given  on  page 
66  may  be  appropriately  used. 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

Leader.  The  Scriptures  are  mentioned  by  the  sacred 
writers  themselves  under  many  different  names  or  titles. 
What  are  some  of  these  ? 

Class.  No.  I.     The  word. 

But  be  ye  doers  of  the  word,  and  not  hearers  only,  deceiving 
your  own  selves.     Jas.  i.  22. 

The  word  of  God. 

But  he  said,  Yea  rather,  blessed  are  they  that  hear  the  word 
of  God,  and  keep  it.     Luke  xi.  28. 

The  word  of  Christ. 

Let  the  word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly  in  all  wisdom ; 
teaching  and  admonishing  one  another  in  psalms  and  hymns 
and  spiritual  songs,  singing  with  grace  in  your  hearts  to  the  Lord. 
Col.  iii.  16. 

Leader.     Can  you  give  still  others  t 

Class  No.  2.     The  Holy  Scriptures. 

Which  he  had  promised  afore  by  his  prophets  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures.     Rom.  i.  2. 
The  Scripture  of  truth. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 


141 


But  I  will  shew  thee  that  which  is  noted  in  the  Scripture  of 
truth.     Dan.  x.  21. 

The  law  of  the  Lord. 

But  his  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  ;  and  in  his  law  doth 
he  meditate  day  and  night.     Psalms  i.  2. 

Leader.  What  are  some  of  the  passages  in  which  the 
word  of  God  is  represented  under  an  emblem  or  figure  1 

Class  No.  3.  And  take  the  helmet  of  salvation,  and  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God.     Eph.  vi.  17. 

Is  not  my  word  like  as  a  fire  ?  saith  the  Lord  ;  and  like  a 
hammer  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  ?    Jer.  xxiii.  29. 

Thy  word  is  a  lamp  unto  my  feet,  and  a  light  unto  my  path. 
Psalms  cxix.  105. 

As  new-born  babes,  desire  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word,  that 
ye  may  grow  thereby.     I.  Pet.  ii.  2. 


RESPONSIVE   RECITATION. 


Class  No.  4. 

I.  "Wherewithal  shall  a  young 
man  cleanse  his  way  ?  Psalms 
cxix.  9. 

3.  Thy  word  have  I  hid  in 
mine  heart.     Psalms  cxix.  ii. 

5.  Sanctify  them  through  thy 
truth.     John  xvii,  17. 

7.  Thelawof  the  Lord  is  per- 
fect, converting  the  soul :  the 
testimony  of  the  Lord  is  sure, 
making  wise  the  simple.  Psalms 
xix.  7. 

9.  Do  not  my  words  do  good 
to  him  that  walketh  uprightly  ,? 
Micah  ii.  7. 


Class  No.  5. 

2.  By  taking  heed  thereto  ac- 
cording to  thy  word.  Psalms 
cxix.  9. 

4.  That  I  might  not  sin  against 
thee.     Psalms  cxix.  11. 

6.  Thy  word  is  truth.  John 
xvii.  17. 

8.  The  statutes  of  the  Lord 
are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart : 
the  commandment  of  the  Lord 
IS  pure,  enlightening  the  eyes. 
Psalms  xix.  8. 

10.  Moreover  by  them  is  thy 
servant  warned  :  and  in  keeping 
of  them  there  is  great  reward. 
Psalms  xix.  1 1. 


142  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Both  classes  recite  ht  concert.  More  to  be  desired  are  they  than 
gold,  yea,  than  much  fine  gold  :  sweeter  also  than  honey  and  the 
honey-comb.     Psalms  xix.  lo. 

Leader.  All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  cor- 
rection, for  instruction  in  righteousness.  II.  Timothy 
iii.  16. 

HYMNS. 

We  won't  give  up  the  Bible, 

God's  holy  book  of  truth. 

\_Happy  Voices^  f>.  72. 

Thank  God  for  the  Bible  ?  'tis  here  that  we  find 
The  story  of  Christ  and  his  love. 

{.Golden  Chain,  p.  63. 

Holy  Bible!  book  divine! 
Precious  treasure!  thou  art  mine! 

\_Am.  S.  S.  Hymn-Book,  No.  122. 

Leader.  What  do  we  learn  as  to  the  character  and 
work  of  the  Bible ;  first,  as  a  means  of  conviction  of 
sin? 

Class  No.  6.  For  the  word  of  God  is  quick,  and  powerful,  and 
sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword,  piercing  even  to  the  dividing 
asunder  of  soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints  and  marrow,  and  is 
a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart.     Heb.  iv.  12. 

For  I  was  alive  without  the  law  once  :  but  when  the  command- 
ment came,  sin  revived,  and  I  died.     Rom.  vii.  9. 

Leader.     Again,  as  tending  to  our  faith  and  hope  ? 

Class  No.  7.  But  these  are  written,  that  ye  might  believe  that 
Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  that  believing,  ye  might 
have  life  through  his  name.     John  xx.  31. 

For  whatsoever  things  were  written  aforetime  were  written  for 
our  learning  ;  that  we  through  patience  and  comfort  of  the  Scrip- 
tures might  have  hope.     Rom.  xv.  4. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  I43 

Remember  the  word  unto  thy  servant,  upon  which  thou  hast 
caused  me  to  hope.     Psalms  cxix.  49. 

So  then  faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of 
God.     Rom.  X.  17. 

Leader.  In  aiding  to  cleanse  the  heart  and  enhghten 
the  mind  ? 

Class  No.  8.  Now  ye  are  clean  through  the  word  which  I 
have  spoken  unto  you.     John  xv.  3. 

Through  thy  precepts  I  get  understanding  :  therefore  I  hate 
every  false  way. 

The  entrance  of  thy  words  giveth  light ;  it  giveth  understand- 
ing unto  the  simple.     Psalms  cxix.  104,  130. 

Leader.  In  promoting  growth  in  grace  and  sanctifi- 
cation  ? 

Class  No.  9.  And  now,  brethren,  I  commend  you  to  God,  and 
to  the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you  up,  and  to 
give  you  an  inheritance  among  all  them  which  are  sanctified. 
Acts  XX.  32. 

For  this  cause  also  thank  we  God  without  ceasing,  because, 
when  ye  received  the  word  of  God  which  ye  heard  of  us,  ye  re- 
ceived it  not  as  the  word  of  men,  but,  as  it  is  in  truth,  the  word 
of  God,  which  effectually  worketh  also  in  you  that  believe.  I. 
Thess.  ii.  13. 

Leader.  What  can  the  infant  class  [or  department] 
tell  us  about  the  word  of  God  ? 

[The  first  twenty  lines  may  be  assigned  to  as  many 
scholars,  or  to  ten,  each  repeating  a  couplet  The  last 
four  lines  are  to  be  repeated  in  concert  by  the  whole 
class.] 

Infant  Class. 

I.    The  Word  of  God  to  man — its  praises  sing  ! 
The  Word  of  God  to  man  good  news  doth  bring. 


144  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

2.  The  Word  of  God  is  mercy  from  above, 
The  Word  of  God,  glad  token  of  his  love  ! 

3.  The  Word  of  God  brings  gracious  news  from  Heaven, 
The  Word  of  God  reveals  our  sins  forgiven. 

4.  The  Word  of  God  great  comfort  doth  impart, 
The  Word  of  God  can  heal  the  broken  heart. 

5.  The  Word  of  God — sweet  music  to  our  ears, 
The  Word  of  God  can  banish  all  our  fears. 

6.  The  Word  of  God,  that  bright  and  shining  light, 
The  Word  of  God  illumes  affliction's  night. 

7.  The  Word  of  God  gives  cordial  to  the  soul, 
The  Word  of  God  makes  broken  spirits  whole. 

8.  The  Word  of  God  doth  consolation  bring, 

The  Word  of  God  can  blunt  death's  sharpest  sting- 

9.  The  Word  of  God  affords  great  consolation. 

The  Word  of  God  shows  Christ  our  one  salvation. 

10.  The  Word  of  God  can  guide  our  souls  to  bliss, 
Where  Jesus  Christ  our  blessed  Saviour  is. 

11.  O,  may  this  blessed  word  be  our  delight, 
Our  meditation,  morning,  noon  and  night. 
May  it  refresh  and  cheer  us  on  the  road. 
Till  we  arrive  at  home,  at  peace  with  God. 

HYMNS. 

How  gentle  God's  commands  ! 

How  kind  his  precepts  are. 

iSong  Flowers,  p.  29. 

How  precious  is  the  story 

Of  our  Redeemer's  birth. 

[Happy  Voices,  p.  24. 

Blessed  Bible  !  how  I  love  it ! 

How  it  doth  my  spirit  cheer. 

[Golden  Censer,  p.  42. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 


145 


Leader.     In  view  of  what  we  have  heard,  what  is  our 
duty  towards  the  Holy  Scriptures  ? 

RESPONSIVE    RECITATION. 

Class  No.  \o.  I  Class  No.  \i. 


I.  This  book  of  the  law  shall 
not  depart  out  of  thy  mouth  ; 
but  thou  shalt  meditate  therein 
day  and  night,  that  thou  may- 
est  observe  to  do  according  to 
all  that  is  written  therein.  Josh. 
1.8. 

3.  And  ye  shall  teach  them 
your  children,  speaking  of  them 
when  thou  sittest  in  thine  house, 
and  when  thou  walkest  by  the 
way,  when  thou  liest  down,  and 
when  thou  risest  up.  Deut.xi.19. 

5.  Whoso  despiseth  the  word 
shall  be  destroyed.  Prov.xiii.13. 

7.  Search  the  Scriptures  ;  for 
in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eter- 
nal life.     John  v.  39. 

9.  For  I  testify  unto  every 
man  that  heareth  the  words  of 
the  prophecy  of  this  book,  If 
any  man  shall  add  unto  these 
things,  God  shall  add  unto  him 
the  plagues  that  are  written  in 
this  book.     Rev.  xxii.  18. 


2.  Therefore  shall  ye  lay 
up  these  my  words  in  your 
heart  and  in  your  soul,  and 
bind  them  for  a  sign  upon  your 
hand,  that  they  may  be  as  front- 
lets between  your  eyes.  DeCrt. 
xi.  18. 

4.  And  thou  shalt  write  them 
upon  the  door-posts  of  thine 
house,  and  upon  thy  gates. 
Deut.  xi.  20. 

6.  But  he  that  feareth  the 
commandment  shall  be  reward- 
ed.    Prov.  xiii.  13. 

8.  And  they  are  they  which 
testify  of  me.     John  v.  39. 

•  10.  And  if  any  man  shall 
take  away  from  the  words  of 
the  book  of  this  prophecy, 
God  shall  take  away  his  part 
out  of  the  book  of  life,  and  out 
of  the  holy  city,  and  from  the 
things  which  are  written  in  this 
book.     Rev.  xxii.  19. 


Both  classes  in  concert.  Continue  thou  in  the  things  which 
thou  hast  learned,  and  hast  been  assured  of,  knowing  of  whom 
thou  hast  learned  them  ; 

And  that  from  a  child  thou  hast  known  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
7 


146  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

which  are  able  to  make  thee  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,     II.  Tim.  iii.  14,  15. 

Leader.  In  reference  to  our  duty  towards  the  Scrip- 
tures as  well  as  in  all  our  duties,  we  may  learn  much 
from  the  example  of  our  blessed  Saviour.  His  fre- 
quent use  of  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures  shows  a 
remarkable  familiarity  with  them,  his  public  teachings 
containing  allusions  to  almost  every  part  of  them. 
Can  you  give  any  instance  of  his  referring  to  the  book 
of  Genesis? 

Class  No.  12.  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Have  ye 
not  read,  that  he  which  made  them  at  the  beginning  made  them 
male  and  female.     Matt.  xix.  4. 

But  as  the  days  of  Noe  were,  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the 
Son  of  man  be.     Matt.  xxiv.  37. 

Leader.     Any  instance  of  his  referring  to  Exodus  ? 

Class  No.  13.  Ye  have  heard  that  it  was  said  by  them  of  old 
time,  Thou  shalt  not  kill ;  and  whosoever  shall  kill  shall  be  in 
danger  of  the  judgment. 

Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said.  An  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a 
tooth  for  a  tooth.     Matt.  v.  21,  38. 

But  as  touching  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  have  ye  not  read 
that  which  was  spoken  unto  you  by  God,  saying, 

I  am  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God 
of  Jacob  ?  God  is  not  the  God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the  living. 
Matt.  xxii.  31,  32. 

Leader.     To  Leviticus  ? 

Class  No.  14.  And  saith  unto  him,  See  thou  say  nothing  to 
any  man :  but  go  thy  way,  shew  thyself  to  the  priest,  and  offer 
for  thy  cleansing  those  things  which  Moses  commanded,  for  "a 
testimonv  unto  them.     Mark  i.  44. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  I47 

Leader.     To  Numbers  ? 

Class  No.  15.  And  as  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wil- 
derness, even  so  must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted  up  ; 

That  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  , 
everlasting  life.     John  iii.  14,  15. 

Leader.     To  Deuteronomy? 

Class  No.  1 6.  And  when  the  tempter  came  to  him,  he  said,  If 
thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  command  that  these  stones  be  made 
bread. 

But  he  answered  and  said,  It  is  written,  Man  shall  not  live  by 
bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth 
of  God. 

Then  the  devil  taketh  him  up  into  the  holy  city,  and  set.teth 
him  on  a  pinnacle  of  the  temple. 

And  saith  unto  him,  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  cast  thyself 
down  :  for  it  is  written.  He  shall  give  his  angels  charge  concern- 
ing thee ;  and  in  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee  up,  lest  at  any 
time  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone. 

Jesus  said  unto  him,  It  is  written  again,  Thou  shalt  not  tempt 
the  Lord  thy  God. 

Again,  the  devil  taketh  him  up  into  an  exceeding  high  moun- 
tain, and  sheweth  him  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  and  the 
glory  of  them  ; 

And  saith  unto  him.  All  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if  thou 
wilt  fall  down  und  worship  me. 

Then  saith  Jesus  unto  him,  Get  thee  hence,  Satan  :  for  it  is 
written,,  Thou  shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only 
shalt  thou  serve.     Matt.  iv.  3-10. 

Leader.     To  I,  Samuel  ? 

Class  No.  17.  But  he  said  unto  them.  Have  ye  not  read  what 
David  did,  when  he  was  an  hungered,  and  they  that  were  with 
him ; 

How  he  entered  into  the  house  of  God,  and  did  eat  the  shew- 


148  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

bread,   which  was  not  lawful  for  him  to  eat,  neither  for  them 
which  were  with  him,  but  only  for  the  priests  ?     Matt.  xii.  3,  4. 

Leader.     To  I.  Kings  ? 

Class  No.  18.  But  I  tell  you  of  a  truth,  many  widows  were  in 
Israel  in  the  days  of  Elias,  when  the  heaven  was  shut  up  three 
years  and  six  months,  when  great  famine  was  throughout  all  the 
land; 

But  unto  none  of  them  was  Elias  sent,  save  unto  Sarepta,  a 
city  of  Sidon,  unto  a  woman  that  was  a  widow.     Luke  iv.  25,  26. 

Leader.     To  II.  Kings? 

Class  No.  19.  And  many  lepers  were  in  Israel  in  the  time  of 
Eliseus  the  prophet ;  and  none  of  them  was  cleansed,  saving 
Naaman  the  Syrian.     Luke  iv.  27. 

Leader.     To  11.  Chronicles  } 

Class  No.  20.  The  queen  of  the  south  shall  rise  up  in  the 
judgment  with  this  generation,  and  shall  condemn  it :  for  she 
came  from  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  to  hear  the  wisdom 
of  Solomon ;  and,  behold,  a  greater  than  Solomon  is  here. 
Matt.  xii.  42. 

That  upon  you  may  come  all  the  righteous  blood  shed  upon 
the  earth,  from  the  blood  of  righteous  Abel  unto  the  blood  of 
Zacharias  son  of  Barachias,  whom  ye  slew  between  the  temple 
and  the  altar.     Matt,  xxiii.  35. 

Leader.     To  the  Psalms  ? 

Class  No.  21.  And  when  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  saw  the 
wonderful  things  that  he  did,  and  the  children  crying  in  the  tem- 
ple, and  saying,  Hosanna  to  the  son  of  David ;  they  were  sore 
displeased. 

And  said  unto  him,  Hearest  thou  what  these  say  ?  And  Jesus 
saith  unto  them.  Yea ;  have  ye  never  read,  Out  of  the  mouth  of 
babes  and  sucklings  thou  hast  p'erfected  praise  ?    Matt,  xxi,  15,  16. 

He  saith  unto  them,  How  then  doth  David  in  spirit  call  him 
Lord,  saving, 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  I49 

The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit  thou  on  my  right  hand,  till  I 
make  thine  enemies  thy  footstool  ?     Matt.  xxii.  43,  44. 

Leader.     To  Isaiah  ? 

Class  No.  22.  For  this  is  he,  of  whom  it  is  written.  Behold, 
I  send  my  messenger  before  thy  face,  which  shall  prepare  thy 
way  before  th^e.     Matt.  xi.  10. 

And  in  them  is  fulfilled  the  prophecy  of  Esaias,  which  saith. 
By  hearing  ye  shall  hear,  and  shall  not  understand ;  and  seeing 
ye  shall  see,  and  shall  not  perceive  : 

For  this  people's  heart  is  waxed  gross,  and  their  ears  are  dull 
of  hearing,  and  their  eyes  they  have  closed ;  lest  at  any  time 
they  should  see  with  their  eyes,  and  hear  with  their  ears,  and 
should  understand  with  their  heart,  and  should  be  converted, 
and  I  should  heal  them.     Matt.  xiii.  14,  15. 

Leader.     To  Daniel  ? 

Class  No.  23.  When  ye  therefore  shall  see  the  abomination  of 
desolation,  spoken  of  by  Daniel  the  prophet,  stand  in  the  holy 
place,  (whoso  readeth,  let  him  understand,^) 

Then  let  them  which  be  in  Judea  flee  into  the  mountains. 
Matt.  xxiv.  15,  16. 

Leader.     To  Hosea  ? 

Class  No.  24.  But  go  ye  and  learn  what  that  meaneth,  I  will 
have  mercy,  and  not  sacrifice  :  for  I  am  not  come  to  call  the 
righteous,  but  sinners  to  repentance.     Matt.  ix.  13. 

Leader.     To  Jonah  ? 

Class  No.  25.  But  he  answered  and  said  unto  them,  An  evil 
and  adulterous  generation  seeketh  after  a  sign ;  and  there  shall 
no  sign  be  given  to  it,  but  the  sign  of  the  prophet  Jonas  : 

For  as  Jonas  was  three  days  and  three  nights  in  the  whale's 
belly,  so  shall  the  Son  of  man  be  three  days  and  three  nights  in 
the  heart  of  the  earth.     Matt.  xii.  39,  40. 

Leader.     To  Zechariah  ? 

Class  No.  26.     And  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  All  ye  shall  be 


150  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

offended  because  of  me  this  night :  for  it  is  written,  I  will  smite 
the  Shepherd,  and  the  sheep  shall  be  scattered.     Mark  xiv.  27. 

Leader.     To  Malachi  ? 

Class  No.  27.  And  if  ye  will  receive  it,  this  is  Elias,  which 
was  for  to  come.     Matt.  xi.  14. 

Leader.  Now  let  us  remember  the  word  of  the 
Lord: 

If  ye  know  these  things,  happy  are  ye  if  ye  do  them.  John 
xiii.  17. 

For  not  the  hearers  of  the  law  are  just  before  God,  but  the 
doers  of  the  law  shall  be  justified.     Rom  ii.  13. 

Pastor.  For  if  any  be  a  hearer  of  the  word,  and  not  a  doer, 
he  is  like  unto  a  man  beholding  his  natural  face  in  a  glass  : 

For  he  beholdeth  himself,  and  goeth  his  way,  and  straightway 
forgetteth  what  manner  of  man  he  was. 

But  whoso  looketh  into  the  perfect  law  of  liberty,  and  con- 
tinueth  therein,  he  being  not  a  forgetful  hearer,  but  a  doer  of  the 
work,  this  man  shall  be  blessed  in  his  deed.     James  i.  23-25. 

Prayer  is  offered. 


The  heavens  declare  thy  glory,  Lord, 
In  every  star  thy  wisdom  shines. 

S^Ain.  S.  S.  Hymn-Book,  No.  134. 

Sinners,  will  you  scorn  the  message 

Sent  from  above  ? 

\,Song  Flowers,  p,  58. 

The    service    is  closed  with  the  benediction,  if  a 
minister  is  present. 


LESSON   VI. 

MAN. HIS   CONDITION    BY    NATURE   AND    BY    GRACE. 

OPENING   HYMN. 

We  come  with  rejoicing,  thanksgiving,  and  song, 
The  notes  of  our  anthem  let  echo  prolong. 
To  Him  who  redeemed  us,  and  saved  us  from  death, 
We'll  sing  loudest  praises,  while  He  gives  us  breath. 

{^Golden  Shower,  p.  67. 
SCRIPTURE    READING. 

To  be  read  responsively : 

Psalm  li. 

OPENING   SENTENCES. 

Pastor.  What  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him  ?  and  the 
son  of  man,  that  thou  visitest  him  } 

For  thou  hast  made  him  a  little  lower  than  the  angels,  and 
hast  crowned  him  with  glory  and  honor.     Ps.  viii.  4,  5. 

Assembly.     Woe  is  me  !  for  I  am  undone.     Isa.  vi.  5. 

Superintendent.  Thou  hast  destroyed  thyself;  but  in  me  is 
thine  help.     Hos.  xiii,  9. 

All.  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation, 
that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners  ;  of  whom 
I  am  chief.     I.  Tim.  i.  15. 

INFANT   CLASS.      RESPONSIVE   RECITATION. 


First  Scholar.  Jesus  said 
Suffer  little  children,  and  forbid 
them  not,  to  come  unto  me  ;  for 
of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.     Matt.  xix.  14. 


Second  Scholar.  O  God,  thou 
art  my  God  ;  early  will  I  seek 
thee.     Psalms  Ixiii.  i. 


152 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 


RESPONSIVE    RECITATION — CONTINUED. 


Third  Scholar.  Then  said 
Jesus  unto  them  again,  I  am 
the  good  Shepherd,  and  know 
my  sheep,  and  am  known  of 
mine.     John  x.  7,  14. 

Fifth    Scholar.       Remember 


Fo^crth  Scholar,  The  Lord 
is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not 
want.     Psalms  xxiii.  i. 


Sixth   Scholar.      My   Father 


now  thy  Creator  in  thy  days  of    thou  art  the  guide  of  my  youth, 
thy  youth.     Eccl.  xii.  i. 

Seventh  Scholar.  I  will  feed 
my  flock,  and  I  will  cause  them 
to  lie  down,  saith  the  Lord 
God.     Ezek.  xxxiv.  15. 


Jer.  iii   4. 

Eighth  Scholar.  He  shall 
gather  the  lambs  with  his  arm, 
and  carry  them  in  his  bosom. 
Isa.  xl.  II. 


Infant  Class  Teacher.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel ;  for 
he  hath  visited  and  redeemed  his  people.     Luke  i.  68. 

TnfiJtt  Class  in  Concert.  Thanks  be  unto  God  for  his  unspeak- 
able gift.     II.  Cor.  ix.  15. 

HYMN. 

Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea. 

But  that  thy  blood  was  shed  for  me.    [Sotig  Flowers,  p.  23. 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

Leader.  How  does  the  Bible  describe  the  natural 
state  of  fallen  man  t 

Class  No.  I.  The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  des- 
perately wicked  :  who  can  know  it .''    Jer.  xvii.  9. 

For  the  imagination  of  man's  heart  is  evil  from  his  youth. 
Gen.  viii.  21. 

The  heart  of  the  sons  of  men  is  fully  set  in  them  to  do  evil. 
Eccl.  viii.  II. 

Because  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God  :  for  it  is  not 
subject  to  the  law  of  God,  neither  indeed  can  be.     Rom.  viii.  7. 

Leader.  What  further  description  of  the  wickedness 
of  man  does  the  Bible  give  ? 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 


153 


Class  No.  2.  For  there  is  not  a  just  man  upon  earth,  that 
doeth  good,  and  sinneth  not.     Eccl.  vii.  20. 

As  it  is  written,  There  is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one  : 

There  is  none  that  understandeth,  there  is  none  that  seeketh 
after  God. 

They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they  are  together  become 
unprofitable  ;  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one. 

Their  throat  is  an  open  sepulchre  :  with  their  tongues  they 
have  used  deceit :  the  poison  of  asps  is  under  their  lips  : 

Whose  mouth  is  full  of  cursing  and  bitterness  : 

Their  feet  are  swift  to  shed  blood  : 

Destruction  and  misery  are  in  their  ways  ; 

And  the  way  of  peace  have  they  not  known  : 

There  is  no  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes.     Rom.  iii.  10-18. 

Leader.  Seeing  that  such  is  man's  lost  condition,  is 
there  any  way  of  escape  for  him  ? 


RESPONSIVE    RECITATION. 


Class  No.  3. 
I.  Behold,  I  am  vile  ;  what 
sh^ll  I  answer  thee  ?  Job.  xl.  4. 


3.  For  mine  iniquities  are 
gone  over  mine  head ;  as  an 
heavy  burden  they  are  too 
heavy  for  me.  Psalms  xxxviii.  4. 

5.  Oh  that  I  knew  where  I 
might  find  him  !  that  I  might 
come  even  to  his  seat !  Job. 
xxiii.  3. 

7* 


Class  No.  4. 

2.  Come  now,  and  let  us 
reason  together,  saith  the  Lord  : 
Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet, 
they  shall  be  as  white  as  snow  ; 
though  they  be  red  like  crim- 
son, they  shall  be  as  wool.  Isa. 
i.  18. 

4.  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that 
labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and 
I  will  give  you  rest..  Matt.  xi. 
28. 

6.  Let  us  therefore  come 
boldly  unto  the  throne  of  grace, 
that  we  may  obtain  mercy,  and 
find  grace  to  help  in  time  of 
need.     Heb.  iv.  16. 


154 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 


RESPONSIVE  RECITATION — CONTINUED. 


7.  I  have  gone  astray  like  a 
lost  sheep.     Psalms  cxix.  176. 

9.  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O 
Lord ;  for  I  am  weak  :  O  Lord, 
heal  me  ;  for  my  bones  are 
vexed.     Psalms  vi.  2. 


Class  No.  5. 
I.  What  must   I   do  to  be 
saved  ?    Acts  xvi.  30. 

3.  Lord,  I  believe  ;  help  thou 
mine  unbelief.     Mark  ix.  24. 

5.  Hide  not  thy  face  far  from 
me.     Psalms  xxvii.  9. 


7.  For  thy  name's  sake  lead 
me,  and  guide  me.  Psalms 
xxxi.  3. 

9.  I  had  fainted,  unless  I  had 
believed  to  see  the  goodness  of 
the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the 
living.     Psalms  xxvii   13. 


8.  For  the  Son  of  man  is 
come  to  seek  and  to  save  that 
which  was  lost.      Luke  xix.  10. 

10.  My  grace  is  sufficient  for 
thee  ;  for  my  strength  is  made 
perfect  in  weakness.  IL  Cor. 
xii.  9. 

Class  No,  6. 

2.  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved. 
Acts  xvi.  31. 

4.  Thy  faith  hath  saved  thee  ; 
go  in  peace.     Luke  vii.  50. 

6.  In  a  little  wrath  I  hid  my 
face  from  thee  for  a  moment ; 
but  with  everlasting  kindness 
will  I  have  mercy  on  thee,  saith 
the  Lord  thy  Redeemer.  Isa. 
liv.  8. 

8.  I  will  instruct  thee,  and 
teach  thee  in  the  way  which 
thou  shalt  go  :  I  will  guide  thee 
with  mine  eye.  Psalrns  xxxii.  8. 

10.  He  giveth  power  to  the 
faint ;  and  to  them  that  have  no 
might  he  increaseth  strength. 
Isa.  xl.  29. 


Both  Classes  in  concert.  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  because  he  hath 
heard  the  voice  of  my  supplications. 

The  Lord  is  my  strength  and  my  shield ;  my  heart  trusted  in 
him,  and  I  am  helped  :  therefore  my  heart  greatly  rejoiceth ;  and 
with  my  song  will  I  praise  him.     Psalms  xxviii.  6,  7. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 55 

The  infant  class  rises,  and  the  scholars  recite  in 
concert,  or  one  line  or  couplet  each  : 

I  have  an  evil  heart  within, 
A  heart  that's  often  prone  to  sin  : 
What  can  a  feeble  infant  do, 
His  naughty  temper  to  subdue  ? 

This  will  I  do,  when  first  I  find 
.    An  evil  thought  within  my  mind, 
I'll  go  to  Jesus,  and  I'll  say, 
Lord,  take  this  sinful  heart  away. 

Does  not  the  name  of  Jesus  mean, 
One  that  has  power  to  save  from  sin  ? 
O  Lamb  of  God,  take  mine  away. 
And  give  me  a  new  heart,  I  pray. 

[Children's  Friend,  1862. 

A  hymn  is  sung: 

Depth  of  mercy,  can  there  be, 
Mercy  still  reserved  for  me  ? 

[Singing  Pilgrim,  p.  14. 

Or, 

Burdened  with  guilt,  would'st  thou  be  blest  ? 
Trust  not  the  world  ;  it  gives  no  rest. 

[Song  Flowers,  p.  44. 

Leader.  Although  such  a  free  and  full  salvation  is 
provided,  many  refuse  to  accept  it.  What  does  the 
Bible  say  as  to*  the  difference  between  such,  and  the 
righteous  ? 

RESPONSIVE   RECITATION. 


Class  No.  7. 
I.     There  is  no  peace,  saith 
my  God,  to  the  wicked.     Isa. 
Ivii.  21. 


Class  No.  8. 
2.     Great  peace   have   they 
which  love  thy  law  :  and  noth- 
ing shall  offend  them.     Psalms 
cxix.  165. 


156 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 


RESPONSIVE   RECITATION- 


CONTINUED. 

4.  But  the  wicked  are  like 
the  troubled  sea,  when  it  can- 
not rest,  whose  waters  cast  up 
mire  and  dirt.     Isa.  Ivii.  20. 

6.  Woe  unto  the  wicked  !  it 
shall  be  ill  with  him ;  for  the 
reward  of  his  hands  shall  be 
given  him.     Isa.  iii.  11. 

8.  But  the  lamp  of  the  wick- 
ed shall  be  put  out.  Proverbs 
xiii.  9. 

ID.  But  the  path  of  the  just 
is  as  the  shining  light,  that 
shineth  more  and  more  unto 
the  perfect  day.     Prov.  iv.   18. 

Both  Classes  in  concert.  And  this  is  the  condemnation,  that 
light  is  come  into  the  world,  and  men  loved  darkness  rather 
than  light,  because  their  deeds  were  evil.     John  iii.   19. 

Pastor.  Yet  a  little  while  is  the  light  with  you.  Walk  while  ye 
have  the  light,  lest  darkness  come  upon  you  :  for  he  that  walketh 
in  darkness  knoweth  not  whither  he  goeth. 

While  ye  have  light,  believe  in  the  light,  that  ye  may  be  the 
children  of  light.     John  xii.  35,36. 

Leader.     Can  you  give  other  similar  passages  ? 


3.  He  shall  never  suffer  the 
righteous  to  be  moved.  Ps. 
Iv.  22. 

5.  Say  ye  to  the  righteous, 
that  it  shall  be  well  with  him  ; 
for  they  shall  eat  the  fruit  of 
their  doings.     Isa.  iii.  10. 

7.  The  light  of  the  righteous 
rejoiceth.     Prov.  xiii.  9. 

9.  The  way  of  the  wicked  is 
as  darkness  ;  they  know  not  at 
what  they  stumble.  Prov.  iv. 
IQ. 


Class  No.  9. 

I.  The  wicked  flee  when  no 
man  pursueth.      Prov.  xxviii.  i. 

3.  For  thou,  Lord,  wilt  bless 
the  righteous  ;  with  favor  wilt 
thou  compass  him  as  with  a 
shield.     Psalms  v.  12. 


Class  No.  10. 

2.  But  the  righteous  are  bold 
as  a  lion.     Prov.  xxviii.  i. 

4.  But  the  wicked  shall  per- 
ish, and  the  enemies  of  the 
Lord  shall  be  as  the  fat  of  lambs: 
they  shall  consume  ;  into  smoke 
shall  they  consume  away,  Ps. 
xxxvii.  20. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 


157 


5.  The  mouth  of  the  right- 
eous speaketh  wisdom,  and  his 
tongue  talketh  of  judgment. 
Psalms  xxxvii.  30. 

7.  The  effectual  fervent  prayer 
of  a  righteous  man  availeth 
much.     James  v.  16. 

9.  The  memory  of  the  just  is 
blessed.     Pro  v.  x.  7. 


6.  But  the  mouth  of  the 
wicked  speaketh  frowardness. 
Prov.  X.  32. 

8.  He  that  turneth  away  his 
ear  from  hearing  the  law,  even 
his  prayer  shall  be  abomination. 
Prov.  xxviii.  9. 

ID.  But  the  name  of  the 
wicked  shall  rot.     Prov.  x.  7. 


Leader.     How  will  this  difference  between  the  right- 
eous and  the  wicked  be  manifest  hereafter  ? 


Class  No.   II. 

I.  So  shall  it  be  at  the  end  of 
the  world :  the  angels  shall 
come  forth,  and  sever  the 
wicked  from  among  the  just, 

And  shall  cast  them  into  the 
furnace  of  fire  :  there  shall  be 
wailing  and  gnashing  of  teeth. 
Matt.  xiii.  49,  50. 

3.  Then  shall  the  King  say 
unto  them  on  his  right  hand. 
Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father, 
inherit  the  kingdom  prepared 
for  you  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world.     Matt.  xxv.  34. 

5.  And  these  shall  go  away 
into  everlasting  punishment. 
Matt.  xxv.  46. 

7,  He  that  is  unjust,  let  him 
be  unjust  still  :  and  he  that  is 
filthy,  let  him  be  filthy  still. 
Rev.  xxii.  ii. 


Class  No.  12. 
2.  Then  shall  the  righteous 
shine  forth  as  the  sun  in  the 
kingdom  of  their  Father,  Matt, 
xiii.  43. 


4.  Then  shall  he  say  also 
unto  them  on  the  left  hand, 
Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed, 
into  everlasting  fire,  prepared 
for  the  devil  and  his  angels. 
Matt.  xxv.  41. 

6.  But  the  righteous  into  life 
eternal."    Matt.  xxv.  46. 

8.  And  he  that  is  righteous, 
let  him  be  righteous  still :  and 
he  that  is  holy,  let  him  be  holy 
still.     Rev.  xxii.  11. 


Leader.     And,  behold,  I  come  quickly  ;  and  my  reward  is  with 


158  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

me,  to  give  every  man  according  as  his  work  shall  be.     Rev. 
xxii.  12. 

Entire  School.  And  the  Spirit  and  the  bride  say,  Come.  And 
let  him  that  heareth  say,  Come.  And  let  him  that  is  athirst 
come.  And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely. 
Rev.  xxii.  17. 

A  hymn  is  sung  : 

Come,  ye  sinners,  poor  and  needy, 
Weak  and  womided,  sick  and  sore. 

[Happy  Voices,  p.  199. 

Or, 

Come  to  Jesus,  come  to  Jesus, 
Come  to  Jesus  just  now. 

[Golden  Censer,  p.  70. 

The  pastor  closes  the  service,  with  the  following  as 
a  benediction : 

Now  the  God  of  peace,  that  brought  again  from  the  dead  our 
Lord  Jesus,  that  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  through  the  blood 
of  the  everlasting  covenant, 

Make  you  perfect  in  every  good  work  to  do  his  will,  working 
in  you  that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus 
Christ ;  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen.  Heb. 
xiii.  20,  21. 


LESSON     VII. 

THE    PARABLE    OF   THE    PRODIGAL   SON, 

EXPLAINED  BY  SCRIPTURE. 

[Prepared  originally  for  the  Asylum  Hill  Church  (Congregational),  Sunday 
School,  Hartford,  Ct.] 

The  service  opens  with  singing : 

Come,  let  us  raise 
A  song  of  praise, 
To  him  who  rules  on  high. 

[A  m.  S.  S.  Hymn  Book,  p.  27. 

The  pastor  says  : 

Hear,  O  heavens,  and  give  ear,  O  earth  :  for  the  Lord  hath 
spoken,  I  have  nourished  and  brought  up  children,  and  they 
have  rebelled  against  me.     Isa.  i.  2. 

The  assembly  respond  : 

We  acknowledge,  O  Lord,  our  wickedness,  and  the  iniquity  of 
our  fathers ;  for  we  have  sinned  against  thee.     Jer.  xiv.  20. 

The  pastor  adds : 

If  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our 
sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness.     I.  John  i.  9. 

The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin. 
I.  John  i.  7. 

In  concert,  all  say  : 

Blessed  are  they  whose  iniquities  are  forgiven,  and  whose  sins 
are  covered.     Rom.  iv.  7. 


l60  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

The  pastor  prays,  all  joining  him  in  the  Lord's 
prayer. 

The  superintendent  reads  a  selection  of  Scripture 
from  Matt.  vii.  7-14. 

All  join  in  singing : 

I  would  love  thee,  Heavenly  Father, 
My  Redeemer,  and  my  King. 

[Golden  Chain,  p.  47. 

The  infant  class  recite  Scripture  passages  as  follows, 
each  scholar  giving  one  text : 

1.  I  was  my  father's  son,  tender  and  only  beloved  in  the  sight 
of  my  mother.     Prov,  iv.  3. 

2.  He  taught  me  also,  and  said  unto  me,  Let  thine  heart  retain 
my  words.     Prov.  iv.  4. 

3.  I  hated  instruction,  and  my  heart  despised  reproof.  Prov. 
v.  12. 

4.  And  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  my  teachers,  nor  inclined 
mine  ear  to  them  that  instructed  me.     Prov.  v.  13. 

5.  I  acknowledge  my  transgressions  :  and  my  sin  is  ever  before 
me.     Ps.  li.  3.  ^ 

6.  I  said,  Lord  be  merciful  unto  me  :  heal  my  soul ;  for  I  have 
sinned  against  thee.     Ps.  xli.  4. 

7.  I  sought  the  Lord,  and  he  heard  me,  and  delivered  me  from 
all  my  fears.     Ps.  xxxiv.  4. 

8.  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me  all  the  days  of 
my  life.     Ps.  xxiii.  6. 

9.  And  I  will  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  forever.  Ps, 
xxiii.  6. 

Thd^nfant  class  recite  in  concert : 

God  is  so  good  that  he  will  hear, 
Whenever  children  humbly  pray  ; 

He  always  lends  a  gracious  ear 
To  what  the  youngest  child  can  say. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  l6l 

His  own  most  holy  book  declares 

He  loves  good  little  children  still, 

And  that  he  listens  to  their  prayers, 

Just  as  a  tender  father  will. 

\_Traci  Primer,  p.  235. 

The  pastor  says : 

O  Lord  our  Lord,  how  excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the  earth ! 
who  hast  set  thy  glory  above  the  heavens. 

Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings  hast  thou  ordained 
strength  because  of  thine  enemies,  that  thou  mightest  still  the 
enemy  and  the  avenger.     Ps.  viii.  i,  2. 

The  infant  class  sings  : 

I  have  a  Father  in  the  promised  land. 


GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

The  superintendent  announces  as  the  subject  for  the 
day  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son,  in  Luke  xv.  11-32. 
fie  brings  out  by  questions  the  fact  that  this  parable 
was  spoken  by  Jesus  on  his  last  journey  to  Jerusalem, 
before  his  crucifixion.     He  then  asks  : 

To  whom  was  this  parable  spoken  ? 

Class  No.  I  answers  : 

Then  drew  near  unto  him  all  the  publicans  and  sinners  for  to 
hear  him  ....  And  he  spake  this  parable  unto  them.  Luke 
XV.  I,  3. 

The  superintendent  reads  :  "  A  certain  man  had  two 
sons,"  and  adds  the  question  : 

Who  is  this  Father  .? 

Class  No.  2  responds  : 

Doubtless  thou  art  our  Father,  though  Abraham  be  ignorant  of 
us,  and  Israel  acknowledge  us  .not :  thou,  O  Lord,  art  our  Father, 
our  Redeemer ;  thy  name  is  from  everlasting.     Isa.  Ixiii.  16. 


1 62  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

One  God  and  Father  of  all,  who  is  above  all,  and  through  all, 
and  in  you  all.     Eph.  iv.  6. 

Superinte7ident.  "  And  the  younger  of  them  said  to 
his  father,  Father,  give  me  the  portion  of  goods  that 
falleth  to  me.     And  he  divided  unto  them  his  hving." 

What  does  Solomon  say  of  such  a  portion  as  this  ? 

Class  No.  3.  He  that  loveth  silver  shall  not  be  satisfied  with 
silver  ;  nor  he  that  loveth  abundance  with  increase.  This  is  also 
vanity.     Eccl.  v.  10. 

SicpermtendeJtt.  "And  not  many  days  after,  the 
younger  son  gathered  all  together,  and  took  his  journey 
into  a  far  country,  and  there  wasted  his  substance 
with  riotous  living." 

What  are  we  told  of  those  who  thus  go  away  from 
God? 

Class  No.  4,  O  Lord,  the  hope  of  Israel,  all  that  forsake  thee 
shall  be  ashamed,  and  they  that  depart  from  me  shall  be  written 
in  the  earth,  because  they  have  forsaken  the  Lord,  the  fountain 
of  living  waters.     Jer.  xvii.  13. 

Superintendent.  "  And  when  he  had  spent  all,  there 
arose  a  mighty  famine  in  that  land ;  and  he  began  to 
be  in  want." 

Does  the  soul  hunger  and  thirst  as  truly  as  the  body  "i 
and  how  is  it  satisfied } 

Class  No.  5.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Behold,  my 
servants  shall  eat,  but  ye  shall  be  hungry :  behold,  my  servants 
shall  drink,  but  ye  shall  be  thirsty :  behold,  my  servants  shall 
rejoice,  but  ye  shall  be  ashamed.     Isa.  Ixv.  13. 

And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  I  am  the  bread  of  life  :  he  that 
Cometh  to  me  shall  never  hunger  ;  and  he  that  believeth  on 
me  shall  never  thirst.     John  vi.  35. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  l6$ 

Superintendetit.  "And  he  went  and  joined  himself 
to  a  citizen  of  that  country ;  and  he  sent  him  into  his 
fields  to  feed  swine." 

How  is  every  sinner,  like  this  prodigal  son,  a 
servant .'' 

Class  N'o.  6.  Jesus  answered  them,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
you,  Whosoever  committeth  sin  is  the  servant  of  sin.  John 
viii.  34. 

Superintendent.  "  And  he  would  fain  have  filled  his 
belly  with  the  husks  that  the  swine  did  eat :  and  no 
man  gave  unto  him." 

What  are  the  wages  of  sin  ?  and  do  they  satisfy  ? 
C/ass  No.  7.     The  wages  of  sin  is  death.     Rom.  vi.  23. 
All  the  labor  of  man  is  for  his  mouth,  and  yet  the  appetite  is 
not  filled.     Eccl.  vi.  7. 

Superintendent.  "  And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he 
said,  How  many  hired  servants  of  my  lather's  have 
bread  enough,  and  to  spare,  and  I  perish  with  hunger !" 

How  is  this  reflection  of  the  prodigal  like  that  of 
many  a  wanderer  from  God  ? 

Class  No.  S.  I  remember  thee  upon  my  bed,  and  meditate  on 
thee  in  the  night  watches.     Psalms  Ixiii.  6. 

Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house  :  they  will  be  still 
praising  thee.     Psalms  Ixxxiv.  4. 

My  life  is  spent  with  grief,  and  my  years  with  sighing :  my 
strength  faileth  because  of  mine  iniquity.     Psalms  xxxi.  10. 

I  thought  on  my  ways,  and  turned  my  feet  unto  thy  testimonies. 
Psalms  cxix,  59. 

Superintendent.  "  I  will  arise,  and  go  to  my  father, 
and  will  say  unto  him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
Heaven,  and  before  thee." 


164  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Is  it  enough  to  think  of  our  Father's  house  ?  or  must 
we  7'eturn  to  God,  and  return  now  ? 

Class  A^o.  9.  Return,  ye  backsliding  children,  and  I  will  heal 
your  backslidings.  Behold,  we  come  unto  thee  ;  for  thou  art  the 
Lord  our  God.     Jer.  iii.  22. 

Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time ;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of 
salvation.     II.  Cor.  vi.  2. 

Superinte7ide7it.  "And  am  no  more  worthy  to  be 
called  thy  son  :  make  me  as  one  of  thy  hired  servants." 

Must  we  confess  our  sins  before  they  can  be  for-' 
given  ? 

Class  No,  ID.  He  that  covereth  his  sins  shall  not  prosper  ;  but 
whoso  confesseth  and  forsaketh  them  shall  have  mercy.  Prov. 
xxviii.  13. 

Humble  yourselves  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  lift 
you  up.     James  iv,  10. 

The  pastor  recites : 

Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth  them 
that  fear  him.     Psalms  ciii.  13. 

My  son,  give  me  thine  heart.     Prov.  xxiii.  26. 

Hearken,  O  daughter,  and  consider,  and  incline  thine  ear. 
Psalms  xlv.  10. 

All  join  in  singing  : 

Wanderer  from  God,  return,  return, 
And  seek  an  injured  Father's  face. 

\_G olden  Shower,  p.  ro. 

Superintendent.  ''  And  he  arose  and  came  to  his 
father.  But  when  he  was  yet  a  great  way  off,  his  father 
saw  him,  and  had  compassion,  and  ran,  and  fell  on  his 
neck,  and  kissed  him." 

How  does  this  resemble  God's  dealings  with  his 
penitent  children  ? 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  16$ 

Class  No.  II.  If  my  people,  which  are  called  by  my  name, 
shall  humble  themselves,  and  pray,  and  seek  my  face,  and  turn 
from  their  wicked  ways  ;  then  will  I  hear  from  heaven,  and  will 
forgive  their  sin.     II.  Chron.  vii.  14. 

Superintendejit.  "  And  the  son  said  unto  him, 
Father,  I  have  sinned  against  Heaven,  and  in  thy  sight, 
and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son." 

Does  God's  forgiving  mercy  increase  our  conscious- 
ness of  sin  ? 

Class  No.  12.  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  according  to  thy 
loving  kindness  :  according  unto  the  multitude  of  thy  tender 
mercies  blot  out  my  transgressions. 

For  I  acknowledge  my  transgressions  :  and  my  sin  is  ever 
before  me. 

Against  thee,  thee  only,  have  I  sinned,  and  done  this  evil  in 
thy  sight.     Psalms  li.  i,  3,  4. 

Superintendent.  "  But  the  father  said  to  his  servants, 
Bring  forth  the  best  robe,  and  put  it  on  him  ;  and  put 
a  ring  on  his  hand,  and  shoes  on  his  feet." 

How  is  righteousness  mentioned  in  the  Bible  as  the 
dress  of  the  redeemed  soul  ? 

Class  No.  13.  I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  my  soul  shall 
be  joyful  in  my  God  ;  for  he  hath  clothed  me  with  the  garments 
of  salvation,  he  hath  covered  me  with  the  robe  of  righteousness, 
as  a  bridegroom  decketh  himself  with  ornaments,  and  as  a  bride 
adorneth  herself  with  her  jewels.     Isa.  Ixi.  10. 

Superintendent.  "And  bring  hither  the  fatted  calf, 
and  kill  it;  and  let  us  eat,  and  be  merry." 

Are  the  provisions  of  the  Gospel  compared  to  a 
feast  ? 

Class  No.  14.  And  in  this  mountain  shall  the  Lord  of  hosts 
make  unto  all  people  a  feast  of  fat  things,  a  feast  of  wines  on  ths 


1 66        THE  children's  bible  service. 

lees,  of  fat  things  full  of  marrow,  of  wines  on  the  lees  well 
refined.     Isa.  xxv.  6. 

Superintendent.  "  For  this  my  son  was  dead,  and  is 
alive  again ;  he  was  lost,  and  is  found.  And  they 
began  to  be  merry.  " 

What  is  said  in  the  Bible,  of  sinners  as  being  lost  and 
dead,  and  as  having  hope  of  life  again  1 

Class  No.  15.  For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and  to 
save  that  which  was  lost.     Luke  xix.  10. 

He  that  hath  the  Son  hatli  life ;  and  he  that  hath  not  the  Son 
of  God  hath  not  life.     I.  John  v.  12. 

A  single  verse  is  sung : 

No  more  a  wandering  sheep, 

I  love  to  be  controlled  ; 
I  love  my  tender.  Shepherd's  voice, 

I  love  the  peaceful  fold  : 
No  more  a  wayward  child, 

I  seek  no  more  to  roam  ; 

I  love  my  heavenly  Father's  voice  ; 

I  love,  I  love  my  home. 

\_Happy   Voices,  p.  45. 

Superintendent.  "  Now  his  elder  son  was  in  the  field : 
and  as  he  came  and  drew  nigh  to  the  house,  he  heard 
music  and  dancing." 

What  assurance  is  given  to  us  that  we  shall  find  joy 
in  coming  back  to  our  Father  in  heaven,  in  penitence 
and  faith  ? 

Class  No.  16.  And  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  return, 
and  come  to  Zion  with  songs  and  everlasting  joy  upon  their 
heads  :  they  shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sigh- 
ing shall  flee  away.     Isa.  xxxv.  10. 

In  thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy ;  at  thy  right  hand  there  are 
pleasures  for  evermore.     Psalms  xvi.  11. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  16/ 

Superhitendent.  "  And  he  called  one  of  the  servants, 
and  asked  what  these  things  meant." 

Is  God's  reception  of  repenting  sinners  often  a  cause 
of  wonder  to  the  self-righteous  ? 

Class  No.  17.  And  the  Pharisees  and  scribes  murmured, 
saying,  This  man  receiveth  sinners,  and  eateth  with  them.  Luke 
XV.  2. 

O  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  tlie  wisdom  and  knowledge 
of  God  !  how  unsearchable  are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past 
finding  out !     Rom.  11.  33. 

Superintendent  "  And  he  said  unto  him,  Thy 
brother  is  come ;  and  thy  father  hath  killed  the  fatted 
calf,  because  he  hath  received  him  safe  and  sound." 

What  does  Christ  say  of  the  joy  in  heaven  over  the 
repentant  sinner? 

Class  No.  18.  I  say  unto  you.  That  likewise  joy  shall  be  in 
heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth,  more  than  over  ninety 
and  nine  just  persons,  which  need  no  repentance.     Luke  xv.  7. 

Superintendent.  "  And  he  was  angry,  and  would  not 
go  in :  therefore  came  his  father  out,  and  entreated 
him." 

We  see  here,  in  strong  contrast,  God's  love  and 
man's  hardness  of  heart,  toward  the  erring.  Can  you 
give  a  similar  instance  from  another  of  Christ's 
parables  ? 

Class  No.  19.  Then  the  lord  of  that  servant  was  moved  with 
compassion,  and  loosed  him,  and  forgave  him  the  debt. 

But  the  same  servant  went  out,  and  found  one  of  his  fellow- 
servants,  which  owed  him  an  hundred  pence  ;  and  he  laid  hands 
on  him,  and  took  him  by  the  throat,  saying.  Pay  me  that  thou 
owest.     Matt,  xviii.  27,  28. 


i68         THE  children's  bible  service. 

Supermtendc7tt.  "  And  he  answering  said  to  his 
father,  Lo,  these  many  years  do  I  serv-e  thee,  neither 
transgressed  I  at  any  time  thy  commandment ;  and  yet 
thou  never  gavest  me  a  kid,  that  I  might  make  merry 
with  my  friends  : 

"  But  as  soon  as  this  thy  son  was  come,  which  hath 
devoured  thy  Hving  v/ith  harlots,  thou  hast  killed  for 
him  the  fatted  calf." 

A  true  son  would  not  answer  his  father  thus.  How 
is  this  boasting  and  servile  spirit  elsewhere  rebuked  ? 

Class  No.  20.  Where  is  boasting  then  ?  It  is  excluded.  By 
what  law  ?  of  works  ?     Nay ;  but  by  the  law  of  faith. 

Therefore  we  conclude,  that  a  man  is  justified  by  faith  with- 
out the  deeds  of  the  law.     Rom.  iii.  27,  28. 

Superintendent  "And  he  said  unto  him,  Son,  thou 
art  ever  with  me,  and  all  that  I  have  is  thine." 

Has  Go.d  in  his  word  given  such  an  assurance  as 
this  to  his  children  ? 

Class  No.  21.  And  because  ye  are  sons,  God  hath  sent  forth 
the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  your  hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father. 

Wherefore  thou  art  no  more  a  servant,  but  a  son ;  and  if  a 
son,  then  an  heir  of  God  through  Christ.     Gal.  iv.  6,  7. 

SiiperhitendeJit  "  It  was  meet  that  we  should  make 
merry,  and  be  glad :  for  this  thy  brother  was  dead,  and 
is  alive  again;  and  was  lost,  and  is  found." 

What  is  said  by  the  prophet  Isaiah  of  the  fitness  of 
universal  rejoicin-g  over  God's  redeeming  grace  ? 

Class  No.  22.  Sing,  O  ye  heavens  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  done  it : 
shout,  ye  lower  parts  of  the  earth  :  break  forth  into  singing,  ye 
mountains,  O  forest,  and  every  tree  therein  :  for  the  Lord  hath 
redeemed  Jacob,  and  glorified  himself  in  Israel.    .  Isa.  xliv.  23. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 69 

Bless  the  Lord,  ye  his  angels,  that  excel  in  strength,  that  do 
his  commandments,  hearkening  unto  the  voice"  of  his  word. 

Bless  ye  the  Lord,  all  ye  his  hosts  ;  ye  ministers  of  his,  that  do 
his  pleasure. 

Bless  the  Lord,  all  his  works  in  all  places  of  his  dominion : 
bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul.     Psalms  ciii.  20-22. 

The  pastor  recites  : 

Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  his  right  hand.  Come, 
ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world.     Matt.  xxv.  34. 

The  assembly  responds : 

Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into 
the  heart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared  for  them 
that  love  him. 

But  God  hath  revealed  them  unto  us  by  his  Spirit.  L  Cor. 
ii.  9,  ID. 

The  pastor  adds : 

Let  us  therefore  fear,  lest,  a  promise  being  left  us  of  entering 
into  his  rest,  any  of  you  should  seem  to  come  short  of  it.  Heb. 
iv.  I. 

A  closing  hymn  is  sung  : 

A  beautiful  land  by  faith  I  see, 
A  land  of  rest,  from  sorrow  free. 

[Golden  Chain,  p.  124. 


LESSON    VIII. 

PRAYER. 

[Arranged  by  John  B.  Smith,  East  Hartford,  Ct.] 

In  evergreen,  or  other  letters,  above  the  pulpit  or 
desk,  the  words  may  appear : 

My  House  shall  be  called  the  House  of  Prayer. 
Matt.  xxi.  13. 

Or  this  text  may  be  shown  on  a  banner,  on  the 
song-roll,  or  on  the  blackboard. 

OPENING    SENTENCES. 

Leader.  O  thou  that  hearest  prayer,  unto  thee  shall  all  flesh 
come.     Psalms  Ixv.  2. 

Assembly.     Lord,  teach  us  to  pray.     Luke  xi.  i. 

Leader.  Be  not  rash  with  thy  mouth,  and  let  not  thine  heart 
be  hasty  to  utter  anything  before  God  :  for  God  is  in  heaven, 
and  thou  upon  earth  ;  therefore  let  thy  words  be  few.    Eccl.  v.  2. 

'Assembly.  The  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmities :  for  we 
know  not  what  we  should  pray  for  as  we  ought :  but  the  Spirit 
itself  maketh  intercession  for  us  with  groanings  which  cannot  be 
uttered.     Rom.  viii.  26. 

Leader.  Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  him  :  for  he 
that  Cometh  to  God  must  believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he  is  a 
rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  seek  him.     Heb.  xi.  6. 

A^sseinbly.  I  will  pray  with  the  spirit,  and  I  will  pray  with  the 
understanding  also.     I.  Cor.  xiv.  15. 

Leader.     Jesus  saith If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my  name, 

I  will  do  it.     John  xiv.  9,  14. 

All,  in  concert.  Let  us  therefore  come  boldly  unto  the  throne 
of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help  in 
time  of  need.     Heb.  iv.  16. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  I/I 

SCRIPTURE   READING. 

Jesus  at  prayer  while  his  disciples  were  on  the  water. 
Matt.  xiv.  22-33. 

HYMN. 

Prayer  is  the  soul's  sincere  desire, 

Unuttered  or  expressed. 

[Am.  S.  S.  Hymn  Book,  No.  14- 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

Leader.  The  subject  of  our  lesson  to-day  is  Prayer. 
It  will  be  well  for  us  to  consider  Who  of  us  should 
pray  \  To  whom  we  should  pray ;  Why  we  should 
pray ;  Where  we  should  pray  ;  When  we  should  pray  ; 
For  what  we  should  pray ;  and  How  we  should  pray. 
Wi'll  the  members  of  the  first  class  tell  us 

,  Who  should  pray  ? 

Class  No.  I. — First  scholar.  Those  who  are  in 
doubt. 

If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  that  giveth  to 
all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not ;  and  it  shall  be  given  him. 
James  i.  5. 

Second  scholar.     Those  who  are  in  distress. 

Is  any  among  you  afflicted  ?  let  him  pray.     James  v.  13. 

Third  scholar.     Those  who  are  sore  burdened. 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I 
will  give  you  rest.     Matt.  xi.  28. 

Fourth  scholar.     The  children. 

Jesus  said,  Suffer  little  children,  and  forbid  them  not,  to  come 
unto  me ;  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.     Matt.  xix.  14. 

Fifth  scholar.     Everybody. 

Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
Isa.  xlv.  22. 


1/2  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Leader.     Will  the  second  class  tell  us 
To  whom  we  should  pray  ? 
Class  No.  2. — First  scholar.     To  the  Lord. 
Take  with  you  words,  and  turn  to  the  Lord.     Hos.  xiv.  2. 
Second  scholar.     To  our  Creator. 

O  come,  let  us  worship  and  bow  down  ;  let  us  kneel  before  the 
Lord  our  Maker.     Psalms  xcv.  6. 

Third  scholar.     To  our  Heavenly  Father. 
Pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret ;  and  thy  Father,  which 
seeth  in  secret,  shall  reward  thee  openly.     Matt.  vi.  6. 

Fourth  scholar.     To  him  whom  we  have  offended. 

Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  according  to  thy  loving-kindness. 
Against  thee,  thee  only,  have  I  sinned.     Psalms  li.  i,  4. 

Fifth  scholar.     To  him  who  died  for  us. 
And  they  stoned  Stephen,  calling  upon  God,  and  saying,  Lord 
Jesus,  receive  my  spirit.     Acts  vii.  59. 

All,  rising,  sing  the  hymn  : 

From  every  stormy  wind  that  blows, 

From  every  swelling' tide  of  woes. 

There  is  a  calm,  a  sure  retreat — 

'Tis  found  beneath  the  mercy-seat. 

\_Si71ging  Pilgrim,  p.  68, 

Leader.     Will  the  third  class  tell  us 

Why  we  should  pray  ? 

Class  No.  3. — First  scholar.  Because  we  are  in 
want. 

Bow  down  thine  ear,  O  Lord,  hear  me ;  for  I  am  poor  and 
needy.     Psalms  Ixxxvi.  i. 

Second  scholar.     Because  God  alone  can  aid  us. 

Give  us  help  from  trouble :  for  vain  is  the  help  of  man. 
Psalms  Ix.  II. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 73 

Third  scholar.  Because  God  gives  blessings  in 
response  to  prayer. 

The  hand  of  our  God  is  upon  all  them  for  good  that  seek  him. 
Ezra  viii.  22. 

Fourth  scholar.  Because  the  answers  to  prayer  are 
rich  and  free. 

For  every  one  that  asketh,  receiveth  ;  and  he  that  seeketh, 
findeth  ;  and  to  him  that  knocketh,  it  shall  be  opened.   Matt.  vii.  8. 

Fifth  scholar.  Because  of  our  danger  from  tempta- 
tion. 

Watch  and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into  temptation.  Matt. 
xxvi.  41. 

Leader.     Will  the  fourth  class  tell  us 
Where  we  should  pray  ? 
Class  No.  4. — First  scholar.     In  secret. 
But  thou,  when  thou  prayest,  enter  into  thy  closet.     Matt.  vi.  6. 
Second  scholar.     In  the  family. 

Pour  out  thy  fury  upon  the  heathen  that  know  thee  not,  and 
upon  the  families  that  call  not  on  thy  name.     Jer.  x.  25. 

Third  scholar.     At  friendly  interviews. 
And  they  all  brought  us  on  our  way,  with  wives  and  children, 
till  we  were  out  of  the  city  :  and  we  kneeled  down  on  the  shore, 
and  prayed.     Acts  xxi.  5. 

Fourth  scholar.     In  the  social  praying  circle. 

He  came  to  the  house  of  Mary  the  mother  of  John,  whose  sur- 
name was  Mark  ;  where  many  were  gathered  together  praying. 
Acts  xii.  12. 

Fifth  scholar.     In  the  house  of  worship. 

Two  men  went  up  into  the  temple  to  pray  ;  the  one  a  Pharisee, 
and  the  other  a  publican,     Luke  xviii.  10. 


1/4  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Sixth  scholar.     Everywhere. 

I  will  therefore  that  men  pray  everywhere,  lifting  up  holy 
hands,  without  wrath  and  doubting.     I.  Tim.  ii.  8. 

A  verse  or  two  of  a  hymn  is  sung,  as 

They  who  seek  the  throne  of  grace, 
Find  that  throne  in  every  place  ; 
If  we  live  a  life  of  prayer, 
God  is  present  everywhere. 

Leader.     Will  the  fifth  class  tell  us 

When  we  should  pray  ? 

Class  No.  5. — First  scholar.  As  often  as  David, 
who  said : 

Evening,  and  morning,  and  at  noon,  will  I  pray,  and  cry 
aloud  ;  and  he  shall  hear  my  voice.     Ps.  Iv.  17. 

Second  scholar.     As  often  as  Daniel. 
He  kneeled  upon  his  knees  three  times  a  day,  and  prayed,  and 
gave  thanks  before  his  God.     Dan.  vi.  10. 

Third  scholar.     In  adversity. 

And  call  upon  me  in  the  day  of  trouble  :  I  will  deliver  thee, 
and  thou  shalt  glorify  me.     Psalms  1.  15. 

Fouj'th  scholar.     In  prosperity. 

And  one  of  them,  when  he  saw  that  he  was  healed,  turned 
back,  and  with  a  loud  voice  glorified  God.     Luke  xvii.  15. 

Fifth  scholar.     Always. 
Pray  without  ceasing.     I.  Thess.  v.  17. 
The  leader  recites : 

Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found,  call  ye  upon  him 
while  he  is  near.     Isa.  Iv,  6. 

The  assembly  responds : 

When  thou  saidst.  Seek  ye  my  face  ;  my  heart  said  unto  thee. 
Thy  face.  Lord,  will  I  seek.     Psalms  xxvii.  8.  / 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1/5 

Leader.     Will  the  sixth  class  tell  us 

For  what  we  should  pra}^  ? 

Class  No.  6. — First  scholar.  For  whatever  we  need 
personally. 

Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  sustain  thee. 
Psalms  Iv.  22. 

Be  careful  for  nothing  ;  but  in  everything  by  prayer  and  sup- 
plication, with  thanksgiving,  let  your  requests  be  made  known 
unto  God.     Phil.  iv.  6. 

Second  scholar.     For  our  friends. 

Confess  your  faults  one  to  another,  and  pray  one  for  another, 
James  v.  i6. 

Third  scholar.     For  our  enemies. 

Pray  for  them  which  despitefully  use  you,  and  persecute  you. 
Matt.  V.  44. 

Fourth  scholar.     For  our  countiy. 

Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem.     Psalms  cxxii.  6. 

For  kings,  and  for  all  that  are  in  authority  :  that  we  may  lead 
a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty.  I.  Tim. 
ii.  2. 

Fifth  scholar.     For  all  men. 

I  exhort  therefore,  that,  first  of  all,  supplications,  prayers, 
intercessions,  and  giving  of  thanks,  be  made  for  all  men.  I.  Tim. 
ii.  I. 

Leader.     Will  the  seventh  class  tell  us 
How  we  should  pray  ? 
First  scholar.     In  penitence. 

I  acknowledge  my  transgressions  :  and  my  sin  is  ever  before 
me.     Psalms  Ii.  3. 

Second  scholar.     In  faith. 
But   let   him   ask   in   faith,  nothing  wavering.     For  he  that 


1/6  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

wavereth  is  like  a  wave  of  the  sea  driven  with  the  wind  and 
tossed.     James  i.  6. 

Third  scholar.     With  all  the  heart. 

And  ye  shall  seek  me,  and  find  me,  when  ye  shall  search  for 
rae  with  all  your  heart.     Jer.  xxix.  13. 

Fourth  scholar.     Perseveringly. 

And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them  to  this  end,  that  men  ought 
always  to  pray,  and  not  to  faint.     Luke  xviii.  1. 

Fifth  scholar.  In  submissiveness,  as  Jesus  prayed 
in  Gethsemane. 

And  he  went  a  little  farther,  and  fell  on  his  face,  and  prayed, 
saying,  O  my  Father,  if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me  : 
nevertheless  not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt.     Matt.  xxvi.  39. 

Leader.  Will  the  infant  class  give  us  an  example  of 
prayer  from  the  lips  of  Jesus  ? 

The  infant  class,  rising,  recites  in  concert  the  Lord's 
prayer,  as  given  on  page  53  : 

After  this  manner  therefore  pray  ye  : 

Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  &c.     Matt.  vi.  9-13. 

The  entire  assembly,  rising,  recites : 

Hearken  unto  the  voice  of  my  cry,  my  King,  and  my  God  :  for 
unto  thee  will  I  pray. 

My  voice  shalt  thou  hear  in  the  morning,  O  Lord ;  in  the 
morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer  unto  thee,  and  will  look  up. 
Psalms  V.  2,  3. 

I  will  bless  the  Lord  at  all  times  :  his  praise  shall  continually 
be  in  my  mouth. 

O  magnify  the  Lord  with  me,  and  let  us  exalt  his  name  to- 
gether.    Psalms  xxxiv.  I,  3. 

The  exercises  close  with  singing : 

Sweet  hour  of  prayer  !  sweet  hour  of  prayer  ! 

iGolde>i  Chain,  /.  10. 


LESSON   IX. 

GIVING    TO    THE    LORD. 

A     LESSON     FOR     MISSIONARY     SUNDAY. 
[Arranged  from  an  Exercise  of  the.  Asy]um  Hill  S.  S.,  Hartford.] 

Attention  may  be  called,  in  connection  with  this 
lesson,  to  the  facts  that  in  all  cases  God's  people,  as 
described  in  the  Bible,  offered  gifts  of  benevolence 
when  coming  to  his  worship ;  and  that  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  clearly  inculcates  giving  as  essential  to  true 
religion. 

The  children  should  be  taught  that  all  can  give 
something;  that  they  should  give  that  which  costs 
them  something  —  that  which  they  have  saved  or 
earned ;  that  they  should  give  it  cheerfully ;  that  they 
should  give  it  as  unto  the  Lord — as  an  earnest  of  their 
grateful  love  for  him  who  gave  himself  for  them. 

The  service  opens  with  a  hymn,  as  : 

I  will  sing  for  Jesus, 

With  his  blood  he  bought  me. 

{^Singing  Pilgrim,  p.  89. 

The  pastor  says : 

God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,   but  have 
everlasting  life.     John  iii.  16. 
8* 


1/8        T^SE  children's  bible  service. 

The  superintendent  adds : 

He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us 
all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely  give  us  all  things  ? 
Rom.  viii.  32. 

The  assembly  responds : 

Every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  is  from  above,  and 
cometh  down  from  the  Father  of  lights,  with  whom  is  no  variable- 
ness, neither  shadow  of  turning.     James  i.  17. 

The  pastor  says : 

The  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Rom.  vi.  23. 

The  assembly  responds : 

Thanks  be  unto  God  for  his  unspeakable  gift.     II.  Cor.  ix.  15. 

The  superintendent  says : 

Freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give.     Matt.  x.  8. 

All,  in  concert,  recite  : 

He  which  soweth  sparingly  shall  reap  also  sparingly ;  and  he 
which  soweth  bountifully  shall  reap  also  bountifully.  II.  Cor. 
ix.  6. 

A  hymn  is  sung,  as  : 

Do  good,  do  good,  there  is  ever  a  way, 

There's  a  way  where  there's  ever  a  will. 

[Golden  Censer,  p.  98. 

The  parable  of  the  Good  Samaritan  (Luke  x.  25-37) 
is  read  elliptically,  as  explained  on  pages  47,  48. 

A  hymn  is  sung,  appropriate  to  the  special  work  in 
which  the  Sunday-school  or  Missionary  Association 
may  be  engaged,  as,  for  instance  : 

Your  Mission.     If  you  cannot,  on  the  ocean, 
Sail  among  the  swiftest  fleet. 

[Singing  Pilgrim,  p.  97 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 79 

Or, 

Over  the  ocean  wave,  far,  far  away, 

There  the  poor  heathen  live,  waiting  for  day. 

\_Golden  Chain,  p.  41. 

Far  out  upon  the  prairie 

How  many  children  dwell. 

[Golden  Chain,  p.  ■20. 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

Each  of  the  following  questions  may  be  answered 
by  a  single  scholar,  or  in  concert  by  an  entire  class,  (or 
by  the  several  members  of  a  class,  where  more  verses 
than  one  are  in  a  text,)  according  to  the  size  of  the 
school,  and  by  previous  assignment. 

Question.  What  was  the  first  offering  to  the  Lord 
of  which  we  have  an  account  ? 

Answer.  And  in  process  of  time  it  came  to  pass,  that  Cain 
brought  of  the  fruit  of  the  ground  an  offering  unto  the  Lord. 

And  Abel,  he  also  brought  of  the  firstlings  of  his  flock,  and  of 
the  fat  thereof  And  the  Lord  had  respect  unto  Abel,  and  to  his 
offering.     Gen.  iv.  3,  4. 

Q_.     Why  was  Abel's  offering  acceptable  to  God  ? 

A.  By  faith  Abel  offered  unto  God  a  more  excellent  sacrifice 
than  Cain,  by  which  he  obtained  witness  'that  he  was  righteous, 
God  testifying  of  his  gifts  ;  and  by  it  he,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh. 
Heb.  xi.  4. 

Q.  What  was  Jacob's  promise,  at  Bethel,  of  offerings 
unto  the  Lord  ? 

A.  And  Jacob  vowed  a  vow,  saying,  If  God  will  be  with  me, 
and  will  keep  me  in  this  way  that  I  go,  and  will  give  me  bread  to 
eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on. 

So  that  I  come  again  to  rav  father's  house  in  peace,  then  shall 
the  Lord  be  my  God  : 


l80  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

And  this  stone,  which  I  have  set  for  a  pillar,  shall  be  God's 
house  :  and  of  all  that  thou  shalt  give  me,  I  will  surely  give  the 
tenth  unto  thee.     Gen.  xxviii.  20-22. 

Q.     When  the  tabernacle  was  to  be  builded,  what 
offering  did  the  Israehtes  make  ? 

A.  And  they  came,  both  men  and  women,  as  many  as  were 
willing-hearted,  and  brought  bracelets,  and  ear-rings,  and  rings, 
and  tablets,  all  jewels  of  gold :  and  every  man  that  offered, 
offered  an  offering  of  gold  unto  the  Lord. 

And  every  man  with  whom  was  found  blue,  and  purple,  and 
scarlet,  and  fine  linen,  and  goats'  hair,  and  red  skins  of  rams, 
and  badgers'  skins,  brought  them. 

Every  one  that  did  offer  an  offering  of  silver  and  brass,  brought 
the  Lord's  offering :  and  every  man  with  whom  was  found 
shittim-wood,  for  any  work  of  the  service,  brought  it. 

And  all  the  women  that  were  wise-hearted  did  spin  with  their 
hands,  and  brought  that  which  they  had  spun,  both  of  blue,  and 
of  purple,  and  of  scarlet,  and  of  fine  linen. 

And  all  the  women,  whose  heart  stirred  them  up  in  wisdom, 
spun  goats'  hair. 

And  the  rulers  brought  onyx-stones,  and  stones  to  be  set,  for 
the  ephod,  and  for  the  breastplate  ; 

And  spice,  and  oil  for  the  light,  and  for  the  anointing  oil,  and 
for  the  sweet  incense. 

The  children  of  Israel  brought  a  willing  offering  unto  the 
Lord,  every  man  and  woman,  whose  heart  made  them  willing  to 
bring,  for  all  manner  of  work  which  the  Lord  had  commanded  to 
be  made  by  the  hand  of  Moses.     Ex.  xxxv.  22-29. 

Q.  What  was  King  David's  offering  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  first  temple  t 

A.  Moreover,  because  I  have  set  my  affection  to  the  house  of 
my  God,  I  have  of  mine  own  proper  good,  of  gold  and  silver, 
which  I  have  given  to  the  house  of  my  God,  over  and  above  all 
that  I  have  prepared  for  the  holy  houye. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  l8l 

Even  three  thousand  talents  of  gold,  of  the  gold  of  Ophir,  and 
seven  thousand  talents  of  refined  silver.     I.  Chron.  xxix.  3,  4. 

Q.  Incited  by  the  king's  example,  what  did  others 
give  for  the  same  work  1 

A.  Then  the  chief  of  the  fathers  and  princes  of  the  tribes  of 
Israel,  and  the  captains  of  thousands  and  of  hundreds,  with  the 
rulers  over  the  king's  work,  offered  willingly. 

And  gave,  for  the  service  of  the-  house  of  God,  of  gold,  five 
thousand  talents  and  ten  thousand  drams ;  and  of  silver,  ten 
thousand  talents  ;  and  of  brass,  eighteen  thousand  talents ;  and 
one  hundred  thousand  talents  of  iion.     I.  Chron.  xxix.  6,  7,  8. 

Q.  What  was  the  spirit  in  which  these  gifts  were 
made  to  the  Lord,  and  which  rendered  them  accept- 
able? 

A.  Then  the  people  rejoiced,  for  that  they  offered  willingly, 
because  with  perfect  heart  they  offered  willingly  to  the  Lord  : 
and  David  the  king  also  rejoiced  with  great  joy.  I.  Chron. 
xxix.  9. 

Q.  When  the  Lord  had  heard  the  prayer  of  Hannah 
and  had  given  her  a  son — Samuel  ;  what  offering  of 
gratitude  did  she  bring  ? 

A.  For  this  child  I  prayed  ;  and  the  Lord  hath  given  me  my 
petition  which  I  asked  of  him  : 

Therefore  also  I  have  lent  him  to  the  Lord;  as  long  as  he 
liveth  he  shall  be  lent  to  the  Lord.  And  he  worshipped  the 
Lord  there.     I.  Sam.  i.  27,  28. 

Q.     How  may  w£  lend  to  the  Lord  ? 

A.  He  that  hath  pity  upon  the  poor  lendeth  unto  the  Lord ; 
and  that  which  he  hath  given  will  he  pay  him  again.  Prov. 
xix.  17. 

Q,     What  instructions  were  given  to  the  Jews,  as  to 


1 82  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

their  days  of  thanksgiving  for  dehverance  from  the 
designs  of  Haman  ? 

A.  That  they  should  make  them  days  of  feasting  and  joy,  and 
of  sending  portions  one  to  another,  and  gifts  to  the  poor. 
Esther  ix.  22. 

'Leader.  Our  examples  of  giving  to  the  Lord  have 
thus  far  been  from  the  Old  Testament.  After  singing 
a  hymn  we  will  hear  some  similar  examples  from  the 
New  Testament. 

HYMN. 

Give,  give,  cheerfully  give, 

As  God  has  given  to  thee  ; 
Do  good  to  all  is  the  great  command, 

And  thine,  a  crown  shall  be. 

[  Worship  in  the  School  Room. 

Question.  When  the  wise  men  came  from  the  East 
to  worship  the  infant  Saviour,  what  offering  did  they 
bring  ? 

Answer.  And  when  they  were  come  into  the  house,  they  saw 
the  young  child  with  Mary  his  mother,  and  fell  down  and 
worshipped  him  :  and  when  they  had  opened  their  treasures, 
they  presented  unto  him  gifts ;  gold,  and  frankincense,  and 
myrrh.     Matt.  ii.  11. 

Q.  What  did  Jesus  obsei-ve  of  the  giving  at  the 
temple  treasury  ? 

A.  And  Jesus  sat  over  against  the  treasury,  and  beheld  how 
the  people  cast  money  into  the  treasury :  and  many  that  were 
rich  cast  in  much. 

And  there  came  a  certain  poor  widow,  and  she  threw  in  two 
mites,  which  make  a  farthing.     Mark  xii.  41,  42. 

Q.     What  was  his  comment  on  this } 

A.     And  he  called  unto  him  his  disciples,  and  saith  unto  them, 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 83 

Verily  I  say  unto  you,  That  this  poor  widow  hath  cast  more  in, 
than  all  they  which  have  cast  into  the  treasury  : 

For  all  they  did  cast  in  of  their  abundance  ;  but  she  of  her 
want  did  cast  in  all  that  she  had,  even  all  her  living,  Mark 
xii.  43,  44. 

Q.  What  offering  was  made  to  Jesus  by  Mary  at 
Bethany  ? 

A .  Then  took  Mary  a  pound  of  ointment  of  spikenard,  very 
costly,  and  anointed  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  wiped  his  feet  with 
her  hair  :  and  the  house  was  filled  with  the  odor  of  the  oint- 
ment.    John  xii.  3. 

Q.  What  did  Jesus  say  in  approval  of  this  costly 
gift? 

A.  She  hath  done  what  she  could  :  she  is  come  aforehand  to 
anoint  my  body  to  the  burying. 

Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Wheresoever  this  gospel  shall  be 
preached  throughout  the  whole  world,  this  also  that  she  hath 
done  shall  be  spoken  of  for  a  memorial  of  her.     Mark  xiv.  8,  9. 

Q.  How  did  the  early  Christians  manifest  a  spirit 
of  liberality  for  the  cause  of  Christ  ? 

A.  And  the  multitude  of  them  that  believed  were  of  one 
heart  and  of  one  soul :  neither  said  any  of  them  that  aught  of  the 
things  which  he  possessed  was  his  own ;  but  they  had  all  things 
common.     Acts  iv.  32. 

Q.  How  was  an  opposite  spirit  manifested  by 
the  young  man  of  whom  Jesus  said  he  lacked  one 
thing : 

A.  Jesus  said  unto  him,  If  thou  wilt  be  perfect,  go  and  sell 
that  thou  hast,  and  give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treas- 
ure in  heaven  ;  and  come  and  follow  me. 

But  when  the  young  man  heard  that  saying,  he  went  away  sor- 
rowful :  for  he  had  great  possessions.     Matt.  xix.  21,  22. 


1 8/^  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

Leader.     And  now  what  has  the  infant  class  to  say- 
about  giving  to  the  Lord  ? 

Tlie  infant  class,  rising,  recites,  scholar  by  scholar : 

Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  he  said,  It  is 
more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.     Acts  xx,  35. 
Sell  that  ye  have,  and  give  alms.     Luke  xii.  33. 
Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you.     Luke  vi.  38. 
God  loveth  a  cheerful  giver.     II.  Cor.  ix.  7. 

Also    the    following    stanzas,    two    lines    to    each 
scholar : 

"  Give,"  said  the  little  stream, 

As  it  hurried  down  the  hill : 
"  I  am  small,  I  know,  but  wherever  I  go, 

The  fields  grow  greener  still." 

"  Give,"  said  the  gentle  rain, 

As  it  fell  upon  the  flowers  : 
"  I  raise  up  the  drooping  heads  again, 

And  freshen  the  summer  bowers." 

"  Give,"  said  the  violet  sweet. 

In  its  soft  and  spring-like  voice  : 
"  From  cottage  and  hall  they  will  hear  my  call, 

They  will  find  me  and  rejoice." 

*'  Give,"  said  they  all ;  "  for  we 

Have  much  received  from  heaven  ; 
And  we  fain  would  give,  yes,  would  only  live 
To  give  as  God  has  given." 

And  you,  dear  children,  too. 

Have  something  you  can  give  ; 

Oh,  do  as  the  streams  and  the  blossoms  do, 

And  for  God  and  others  live. 

\  Child's  Companion. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 85 

The  infant  class  sings  : 

Little  drops  of  water, 

Little  grains  of  sand, 
Make  the  mighty  ocean 

And  the  beauteous  land.     {Happy  Voices,  p.  91. 

Leader.  As  we  have  thus  far  noted  examples^  from 
the  Bible,  of  giving  to  the  Lord,  let  us  now  look  at  the 
direct  teachings  of  God's  word  on  this  theme. 

Q.     Who  should  give  ? 

A.  Every  man  according  as  he  purposeth  in  his  heart,  so  let 
him  give.     11.  Cor.  ix.  7. 

Q.     To  whom  should  we  give  ? 

A.  As  we  have  therefore  opportunity,  let  us  do  good  unto  all 
men,  especially  unto  them  who  are  of  the  household  of  faith. 
Gal.  vi.  10. 

Q.     How  should  we  give .'' 
A.     Quietly. 

But  when  thou  doest  alms,  let  not  thy  left  hand  know  what 
thy  right  hand  doeth.     Matt.  vi.  3. 

Systematically. 

Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week  let  every  one  of  you  lay  by  him 
in  store,  as  God  hath  prospered  him.     I.  Cor.  xvi.  2. 

In  faith. 

Whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.     I.  Cor.  x.  31. 
Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  him.     Heb.  xi.  6. 
Whatsoever  is  not  of  faith  is  sin.     Rom.  xiv.  23. 

Q.     Is  it  safe  to  refrain  from  giving  ? 

A.  There  is  that  ^vithholdeth  more  than  is  meet,  but  it 
tendeth  to  poverty.     Pro  v.  xi.  24. 

How  hardly  shall  they  that  have  riches  enter  into  the  kingdom 
cf  Godl    Mark  x.  23. 


1 86        THE  children's  bible  service. 

If  therefore  ye  have  not  been  faithful  m  the  unrighteous  mam- 
mon, who  will  commit  to  your  trust  the  true  riches  ?  Luke 
xvi.  II. 

The  pastor  and  the  superintendent  may  recite  (or 
read)  m  alternation,  from  Matt.  xxv.  31-40,  as  follows: 

Pastor.  When  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in  his  glory,  and  all 
the  holy  angels  with  him,  then  shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his 
glory  :  • 

And  before  him  shall  be  gathered  all  nations :  and  he  shall 
separate  them  one  from  another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his 
sheep  from  the  goats  : 

And  he  shall  set  the  sheep  on  his  right  hand,  but  the  goats  on 
the  left. 

Stiperintendent.  Then  shall  the  king  say  unto  them  on  his 
right  hand,  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world  : 

For  I  was  an  hungered,  and  ye  gave  me  meat .-  I  was  thirsty, 
and  ye  gave  me  drink :  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in  : 

Naked,  and  ye  clothed  me  :  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me  :  I 
was  in  prison,  and  ye  came  unto  me. 

Then  shall  the  righteous  answer  him,  saying.  Lord,  when  saw  we 
thee  an  hungered,  and  fed  thee  t  or  thirsty,  and  gave  thee  drink  t 

When  saw  we  thee  a  stranger,  and  took  thee  in }  or  naked, 
and  clothed  thee  .'* 

Or  when  saw  we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  came  unto  thee  .'* 

Pastor.  And  the  king  shall  answer  and  say  unto  them.  Verily 
I  say  unto  you.  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the 
least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me. 

The  service  closes  with  the  singing  of  a  hymn,  as : 

What  shall  I  for  that  kind  Friend 
Who  once  for  me  so  poor  becam.e  ? 

[Golden  CeTtser,  p.  23. 

Or, 

As  God  has  kindly  blessed  us, 

To  others  let  us  give.         iSinguig  Pllg-rim,  p.  114. 


LESSON    X. 

SCRIPTURAL    HISTORY   OF   ABRAHAM. 

For  an  opening  exercise,  schedule  i,  on  page  55, 
can  be  employed,  with  such  variations  as  seem  called 
for.  For  Scripture  readings,  the  following  are  appro- 
priate : 

To  be  read  by  the  Superintendent : 

Now  faith  is  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence 
of  things  not  seen,  &c.     Heb.  xi.  i-io. 

To  be  read  responsively  by  leader  and  assembly : 

Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the  counsel  of  the  un- 
godly, nor  standeth  in  the  way  of  sinners,  nor  sitteth  in  the  seat 
of  the  scornful,  &c.     Psalm  i. 

Hymns  on  the  subject  of  faith,  or  of  a  pilgrim  life  in 
promise  of  a  better  country,  may  be  selected  ;  such  as  : 

Rise,  O  my  soul,  pursue  the  path 

By  ancient  worthies  trod ; 
Aspiring,  view  those  holy  men 

Who  lived  and  walked  with  God. 

[Son^s  of  Sanct.^p.  190. 

A  crown  of  glory  bright 
By  faith's  clear  eyes  I  see. 

[Golden  Shower,  p.  21. 


1 88  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

•  How  large  the  promise  !  how  divine  ! 

To  Abraham  and  his  seed. 

\_Son£'s  of  Sand.  p.  313. 

We're  bound  for  the  land  of  the  pure  and  the  holy. 

\_Ain.  S.  S.  Hymn-Book,  p.  255. 

Jo3rfully,  joyfully,  onward  we  move. 

\A  m.  S.  S.  Hymn-Book,  p.  254. 

Courage,  brother,  do  not  stumble, 
Though  thy  path  be  dark  as  night. 

{Singing  Pilgrim,  p.  33. 

[This  lesson  may  be  used  as  an  entire  exercise,  or  as 
preliminary  to  a  brief  sermon  or  address  on  Abraham 
and  the  lessons  of  his  life.] 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

1.  Question.  By  what  name  was  Abraham  first 
known  .'* 

Answer,     Abram. 

2.  (2-  What  is  the  earliest  mention  of  him  in  the 
Bible .? 

A.  Now  these  are  the  generations  of  Terah :  Terah  begat 
Abram,  Nahor,  and  Haran  ;  and  Haran  begat  Lot.     Gen.  xi.  27. 

3.  Q.     Where  seems  to  have  been  his  birthplace  ? 
A.     And  Haran  died  before  his  father  Terah  in  the  land  of  his 

nativity,  in  Ur  of  the  Chaldees.     Gen.  xi.  28. 

4.  <2.     Whither  did  Abram  move  from  Ur  ? 

A.  And  Abram  took  Sarai  his  wife,  and  Lot  his  brother's 
son,  and  all  their  substance  that  they  had  gathered,  and  the  souls 
that  they  had  gotten  in  Haran  ;  and  they  went  forth  to  go  into 
the  land  of  Canaan ;  and  into  the  land  of  Canaan  they  came. 
Gen.  xii.  5. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 89 

S'   Q-     Why  did  he  make  this  move  ? 

A.  Now  the  Lord  had  said  unto  Abram,  Get  thee  out  of  thy 
country,  and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from  thy  father's  house,  unto 
a  land  that  I  will  show  thee.     Gen.  xii.  i. 

6.  Q.  What  promise  was  given  to  him  of  temporal 
benefits  ? 

A.  And  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation,  and  I  will  bless  thee, 
and  make  thy  name  great ;  and  thou  shalt  be  a  blessing.  Gen.  xii.  2. 

7.  Q.     What  was  his  promise  of  spiritual  advantage  ? 

A.  And  I  will  bless  them  that  bless  thee,  and  curse  him  that 
curseth  thee  :  and  in  thee  shall  all  families  of  the  earth  be 
blessed.     Gen.  xii.  3. 

8.  Q.     What  his  promise  of  offspring  ? 

A.  And  I  will  make  thy  seed  as  the  dust  of  the  earth :  so 
that  if  a  man  can  number  the  dust  of  the  earth,  then  shall  thy 
seed  also  be  numbered.     Gen.  xiii.  16. 

9.  Q.  What  is  the  evidence  that  Abram  worshiped 
the  true  God  ? 

A.  And  he  removed  from  thence  unto  a  mountain  on  the  east 
of  Beth-el,  and  pitched  his  tent,  having  Beth-el  on  the  west,  and 
Hai  on  the  east :  and  there  he  builded  an  altar  unto  the  Lord, 
and  called  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord.     Gen.  xii.  8. 

10.  Q.     What  is  said  of  Abram's  worldly  prosperity  ? 

A.  And  Abram  was  very  rich  in  cattle,  in  silver,  and  in  gold. 
Gen.  xiii.  2. 

11.  Q.     What  is  said  of  his  spiritual  life  ? 

A.  And  he  believed  in  the  Lord  ;  and  he  counted  it  to  him 
for  righteousness.     Gen.  xv.  6. 

12.  Q.  What  evidence  of  a  love  of  peace  is  re- 
corded of  him  ? 

A.     And  Abram  said  unto  Lot,  Let  there  be  no  strife,  I  pray 


IQO  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

thee,  between  me  and  thee,  and  between  my  herdmen  and  thy 
herdmen  ;  for  we  be  brethren. 

Is  not  the  whole  land  before  thee  ?  separate  thyself,  I  pray 
thee,  from  me  :  if  thou  wilt  take  the  left  hand,  then  I  will  go  to 
the  right ;  or  if  thou*  depart  to  the  right  hand,  then  I  will  go  to 
the  left.     Gen.  xiii.  8,  9. 

13-  <2-  When  was  Abram's  name  changed,  and 
why .? 

A.  And  when  Abram  was  ninety  years  old  and  nine,  the 
Lord  appeared  to  Abram,  and  said  unto  him,  I  am  the  Almighty 
God  :  walk  before  me,  and  be  thou  perfect. 

Neither  shall  thy  name  any  more  be  called  Abram ;  but  thy 
name  shall  be  Abraham  :  for  a  father  of  many  nations  have  I 
made  thee.     Gen.  xvii.  i,  5. 

14.  Q.  What  covenant  did  God  then  make  with 
Abraham  ? 

A.  And  I  will  establish  my  covenant  between  me  and  thee, 
and  thy  see'd  after  thee,  in  their  generations,  for  an  everlasting 
covenant,  to  be  a  God  unto  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  after  thee. 

And  I  will  give  unto  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  after  thee,  the  land 
wherein  thou  art  a  stranger,  all  the  land  of  Canaan,  for  an  ever- 
lasting possession  ;  and  I  will  be  their  God.     Gen.  xvii.  7,  8. 

15.  Q.  How  old  was  Abraham  when  Isaac  was 
born? 

■A.  And  "Abraham  was  a  hundred  years  old,  when  his  son 
Isaac  was  born  unto  him.     Gen.  xxi.  5. 

16.  Q.  What  demand  did  God  make  of  Abraham, 
as  to  Isaac  ? 

A.  And  he  said,  Take  now  thy  son,  thine  only  son  Isaac, 
whom  thou  lovest,  and  get  thee  into  the  land  of  Moriah  ;  and 
offer  him  there  for  a  burnt-offering  upon  one  of  the  mountains 
which  I  will  tell  thee  of.     Gen.  xxii.  2. 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  I9I 

17.  Q.     How  did  Abraham  respond  ? 

A.  And  Abraham  rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and  saddled 
his  ass,  and  took  two  of  his  young  men  with  him,  and  Isaac  his 
son,  and  clave  the  wood  for  the  burnt-offering,  and  rose  up,  and 
went  unto  the  place  of  which  God  had  told  him.     Gen.  xxii.  3. 

18.  Q.  What  did  the  Lord's  angel  say  to  Abraham 
when  he  had  made  ready  for  the  sacrifice .'' 

A.  And  he  said,  Lay  not  thine  hand  upon  the  lad,  neither  do 
thou  anything  unto  him  :  for  now  I  know  that  thou  fearest  God, 
seeing  thou  hast  not  withheld  thy  son,  thine  only  son,  from  me. 
Gen.  xxii.  12. 

19.  Q.  Why  was  Abraham  wilHng  to  comply  with 
God's  command.'' 

A.  Accounting  that  God  was  able  to  raise  him  up,  even  from 
the  dead  ;  from  whence  also  he  received  him  in  a  figure.  Heb. 
xi.  19. 

20.  Q      What  kind  of  a  dwelling  was  Abraham's  ? 

A.  And  the  Lord  appeared  unto  him  in  the  plains  of  Mamre  : 
and  he  sat  in  the  tent-door  in  the  heat  of  the  day.     Gen.  xviii.  i. 

21.  Q.     What  evidence  is  furnished  of  Abraham's 

hospitality  ? 

A.  And  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  looked,  and,  lo,  three  men 
stood  by  him  :  and  when  he  saw  them,  he  ran  to  meet  them  from 
the  tent  door,  and  bowed  himself  toward  the  ground. 

And  said.  My  Lord,  if  now  I  have  found  favor  in  thy  sight, 
pass  not  away,  I  pray  thee,  from  thy  servant  :   * 

Let  a  httle  water,  I  pray  you,  be  fetched,  and  wash  your  feet, 
and  rest  yourselves  under  the  tree  : 

And  I  will  fetch  a  morsel  of  bread,  and  comfort  ye  your  hearts  ; 
after  that  ye  shall  pass  on  :  for  therefore  are  ye  come  to  your 
servant.  And  they  said.  So  do,  as  thou  hast  said.  Gen.  xviii. 
2-5- 


192  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

22.  Q.  To  whom  did  Abraham  bequeath  his  pos- 
sessions .-* 

A.  And  Abraham  gave  all  that  he  had  unto  Isaac.  Gen. 
XXV.  5. 

23.  (2-     At  what  age  did  Abraham  die  ? 

A.  And  these  are  the  days  of  the  years  of  Abraham's  life 
which  he  lived,  a  hundred  threescore  and  fifteen  years.  Gen. 
XXV.  7. 

24.  Q.     What  is  the  record  of  him  at  his  death  ? 

A.  Then  Abraham  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  died  in  a  good  old 
age,  an  old  man,  and  full  of  years ;  and  was  gathered  to  his 
people.     Gen.  xxv.  8. 

25.  Q.  What  was  ever  the  greatest  pride  of  ances- 
try of  the  Jewish  people  ? 

A.  We  be  Abraham's  seed,  and  were  never  in  bondage  to 
any  man. 

Abraham  is  our  father.     John  viii.  33,  39. 

26.  Q.  How  did  Jesus  make  reference  to  the 
Jewish  figure  of  Abraham's  bosom  as  the  final  abode 
of  the  blessed  ? 

A.  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  the  beggar  died,  and  was  carried 
by  the  angels  into  Abraham's  bosom  :  the  rich  man  also  died, 
and  was  buried.     Luke  xvi.  22. 

27.  Q.  What  did  Jesus  say  of  Abraham's  faith  in 
Him .? 

A.  Your  father  Abraham  rejoiced  to  see  my  day  ;  and  he  saw 
it,  and  was  glad.     John  viii.  56. 

28.  Q.     How  may  we  be  children  of  Abraham  ? 

A.  Know  ye  therefore,  that  they  which  are  of  faith,  the  same 
are  the  children  of  Abraham.     Gal.  iii.  7. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  I93 

29.  Q.  What  benefits  are  secured  to  those  who  by 
faith  are  thus  Abraham's  children  ? 

A.  So  then  they  which  be  of  faith  are  blessed  with  faithful 
Abraham. 

Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being 
made  a  curse  for  us  :  for  it  is  written,  Cursed  is  every  one  that 
hangeth  on  a  tree  : 

That  the  blessing  of  Abraham  might  come  on  the  Gentiles 
through  Jesus  Christ ;  that  we  might  receive  the  promise  of  the 
Spirit  through  faith.     Gal.  iii.  9,  13,  14. 
A  closing  hymn  is  sung : 

Children  of  the  Heavenly  King, 
As  ye  journey,  sweetly  sing  ; 
Sing  your  Saviour's  worthy  praise, 
Glorious  in  his  works  and  ways. 

\_S.  S.  Hosatma,  p.  37. 


LESSON    XI. 

BIBLE    MOUNTAINS,    AND    THEIR    LESSONS. 
[Arranged  Ironi  a  lesson  by  Mrs.  S.  J.  McCall,  Saybrook,  Ct.] 

Portions  of  the  opening  exercises  of  Lesson  I.  on 
pages  86-89,  may  be  appropriately  used  with  this 
lesson. 

Psalm  xlvi.  is  a  fitting  one  to  be  read  as  a  Scripture 
selection. 

For    hymns,    either   of  the    following    named   will 

answer : 

Zion  stands  with  hills  surrounded — 
Zion,  kept  by  power  divine. 

[Songs /or  the  Sand.  p.  349. 

Oh,  give  me  a  harp  on  the  bright  hills  of  glory — 
A  home  when  life's  sorrows  are  o  'er. 

\_G0Ide71  Shower,  /.  72. 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

1.  Question.  On  what  mountain  did  the  ark  rest 
after  the  deluge  ? 

Answer.  And  the  ark  rested  in  the  seventh  month,  on  the 
seventeenth  day  of  the  month,  upon  the  mountains  of  Ararat. 
Gen.  viii.  4. 

2 .  (2-  What  mountain  was  the  scene  of  Abraham's 
trial  of  faith  ? 

A.  Take  now  thy  son,  thine  only  son  Isaac,  whom  thou 
lovest,  and  get  thee  into  the  land  of  Moriah  j  and  offer  him  there 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  I95 

for  a  burnt  offering  upon  one  of  the  mountains  which  I  will  tell 
thee  of.     Gen.  xxii.  2. 

3.  Q.  At  what  mountain  did  God  appear  in  the 
burning  bush  to  Moses  ? 

A.  Now  Moses  kept  the  flock  of  Jethro  his  father-in-law,  the 
priest  of  Midian :  and  he  led  the  flock  to  the  back  side  of  the 
desert,  and  came  to  the  mountain  of  God,  even  to  Horeb. 

And  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  appeared  unto  him  in  a  flame  of 
fire  out  of  the  midst  of  a  bush  :  and  he  looked,  and,  behold,  the 
bush  burned  with  fire,  and  the  bush  was  not  consumed.  Ex. 
iii.  I,  2. 

4.  Q.     What  other  miracle  was  performed  at  Horeb  ? 

A.  Behold,  I  will  stand  before  thee  there  upon  the  rock  in 
Horeb ;  and  thou  shalt  smite  the  rock,  and  there  shall  come 
water  out  of  it,  that  the  people  may  drink.  And  Moses  did  so 
in  the  sight  of  the  elders  of  Israel.     Ex.  xvii.  6. 

5.  Q.  Where  were  the  commandments  delivered  to 
Moses } 

A.  And  the  Lord  carne  down  upon  Mount  Sinai,  on  the  top 
of  the  mount ;  and  the  Lord  called  Moses  up  to  the  top  of  the 
mount ;  and  Moses  went  up.     Ex.  xix.  20. 

And  he  gave  unto  Moses,  when  he  had  made  an  end  of  com- 
muning with  him  upon  Mount  Sinai,  two  tables  of  testimony, 
tables  of  stone,  written  with  the  finger  of  God.     Ex.  xxxi.  18. 

6.  Q.  Where  is  Mount  Sinai  referred  to  as  a  type 
of  the  Law,  by  which  no  man  is  justified.^ 

A.  For  ye  are  not  come  unto  the  mount  that  might  be 
touched,  and  that  burned  with  fire,  n-or  unto  blackness,  and 
darkness,  and  tempest. 

And  the  sound  of  a  trumpet,  and  the  voice  of  words ;  which 
voice  they  that  heard  entreated  that  the  word  should  not  be 
spoken  to  them  any  more.     Heb.  xii.  18,  19. 


196  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

7.  Q.     On  what  mountain  did  Aaron  die  ? 

A.  And  Moses  did  as  the  Lord  commanded  :  and  they  went 
up  into  Mount  Hor  in  the  sight  of  all  the  congregation. 

And  Moses  stripped  Aaron  of  hfs  garments,  and  put  them 
upon  Eleazar  his  son ;  and  Aaron  died  there  in  the  top  of  the 
mount :  and  Moses  and  Eleazar  came  down  from  the  mount. 
Num.  XX.  27,  28. 

8.  Q.     On  what  mountain  did  Moses  die  ? 

A.  And  Moses  went  up  from  the  plains  of  Moab  unto  the 
mountain  of  Nebo,  to  the  top  of  Pisgah,  that  is  over  against 
Jericho ;  and  the  Lord  shewed  him  all  the  land  of  Gilead,  unto 
Dan. 

So  Moses,  the  servant  of  the  Lord,  died  there,  in  the  land  of 
Moab,  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord.     Deut.  xxxiv.  i,  5. 

9.  Q.  What  mountain  of  the  promised  land  did 
Moses  long  to  see  before  his  death .? 

A.  I  pray  thee,  let  me  go  over,  and  see  the  good  land  that  is 
beyond  Jordan,  that  goodly  mountain,  and  Lebanon.  Deut. 
iii.  25. 

10.  Q.     For  what  trees  was  Mount  Lebanon  noted  ? 
A.     I  am  come  up  to  the  height  of  the  mountains,  to  the  sides 

of  Lebanon,  and  will  cut  down  the  tall  cedar  trees  thereof,  and 
the  choice  fir  trees  thereof.     II.  Kings  xix.  23. 

11.  Q.  What  was  Solomon's  message  to  the  king 
of  Tyre  concerning  these  trees,  for  the  temple  build- 
ing? 

A.  Send  me  also  cedar  trees,  fir  trees,  and  algum  trees,  out  of 
Lebanon :  for  I  know  that  thy  servants  can  skill  to  cut  timber  in 
Lebanon ;  and,  behold,  my  servants  shall  be  with  thy  servants. 

Even  to  prepare  me  timber  in  abundance:  for  the  house 
which  I  am  about  to  build  shall  be  wonderful  great.  II.  Chron. 
ii.  8,  9. 


THE    CHILDREN'S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  IQ/ 

12.  Q.  How  is  the  fruitfulness  of  this  mountain 
used  in  a  figure  as  a  promise  to  God's  people  ? 

A.  The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the  palm  tree  :  he  shall 
grow  like  a  cedar  in  Lebanon.     Psalms  xcii.  12. 

13.  Q.  What  tv/o  mountains  were  designated  to 
Israel  as  those  of  blessing  and  cursing  ? 

A.     Behold,  I  set  before  you  this  day  a  blessing  and  a  curse  : 
And  it  shall  come   to  pass,  when  the  Lord   thy  God  hath 
brought  thee  in  unto  the  land  whither  thou  goest  to  possess  it, 
that  thou  shalt  put  the  blessing  upon  Mount  Gerizim,  and  the 
curse  upon  Mount  Ebal.     Deut.  xi.  26,  29. 

14.  Q.  Was  this  command  obeyed  when  Joshua 
entered  Canaan  with  Israel .'' 

A.  And  all  Israel,  and  their  elders,  and  officers,  and  their 
judges,  stood  on  this  side  the  ark  and  on  that  side  before  the 
priests  the  Levites,  which  bare  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the 
Lord,  as  well  the  stranger,  as  he  that  was  born  among  them ; 
half  of  them  over  against  Mount  Geridm,  and  half  of  them  over 
against  Mount  Ebal ;  as  Moses  the  servant  of  the  Lord  had 
commanded  before,  that  they  should  bless  the  people  of  Israel. 
Josh.  viii.  33. 

15.  Q.  Do  you  recall  an  occasion  when  God's 
people  and  their  enemies  were  actually  over  against 
each  other  on  opposite  mountains  ? 

A.  Yes.  When  David  went  out  to  meet  Goliath 
of  Gath. 

And  the  Philistines  stood  on  a  mountain  on  the  one  side,  and 
Israel  stood  on  a  mountain  on  the  other  side  :  and  there  was  a 
valley  between  them.     I.  Sam.  xvii.  3. 

16.  Q.  On  which  of  the  two  mountains  named  did 
Joshua  build  an  altar  ? 


198  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

A.  Then  Joshua  built  an  altar  unto  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  in 
Mount  Ebal.     Josh.  viii.  30. 

17.  Q,     What  gave  subsequent  prominence  to  Geri- 
zim? 

A.     The  temple  of  the  Samaritans  was  built  there. 

18.  Q.     On  what  occasion  was  reference  made  to 
this  fact,  and  how  ? 

A.  When  Jesus  talked  with  the  woman  at  Jacob's 
well,  near  the  foot  of  Mount  Gerizim. 

The  woman  saith  unto  him,  Sir,  I  perceive  that  thou  art  a 
prophet. 

Our  fathers  worshiped  in  this  mountain ;  and  ye  say,  that  in 
Jerusalem  is  the  place  where  men  ought  to  worship.  John  iv. 
19,  20. 

19.  Q.     On  what  mountain  was  Joshua  buried  .'' 

A.  And  it  came  to  pass  after  these  things,  that  Joshua  the 
son  of  Nun,  the  servant  of  the  Lord,  died,  being  a  hundred  and 
ten  years  old 

And  they  buried  him  in  the  border  of  his  inheritance  iu 
Timnath-serah,  which  is  in  Mount  Ephraim,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  hill  of  Gaash.     Josh.  xxiv.  29,  30. 

20.  Q.  On  what  mountain  were  Saul  and  his  three 
sons  slain  ? 

A.  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  when  the  Philistines 
came  to  strip  the  slain,  that  they  found  Saul  and  his  three  sons 
fallen  in  Mount  Gilboa.     I.  Sam.  xxxi.  8, 

21.  Q.  On  what  mountain  did  Elijah  meet  and 
confound  the  prophets  of  Baal  ? 

A.  Now  therefore  send,  and  gather  to  me  all  Israel  unto 
Mount  Carmel,  and  the  prophets  of  Baal  four  hundred  and  fifty, 
and  the  prophets  of  the  groves  four  hundred,  which  eat  at  Jeze- 
bel's table. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  1 99 

So  Ahab  sent  unto  all  the  children  of  Israel,  and  gathered  the 
prophets  together  unto  Mount  Carmel.     I.  Kings  xviii,  19,  20. 

2  2.  Q_.  On  what  mountain  was  the  temple  built  by 
Solomon  t 

A.  Then  Solomon  began  to  build  the  house  of  the  Lord  at 
Jerusalem  in  Mount  Moriah,  where  the  Lord  appeared  unto 
David  his  father,  in  the  place  that  David  had  prepared  in  the 
threshing-floor  of  Oman  the  Jebusite.     IL  Chron.  iii.  i. 

23-  <2-  What  incident  have  we  already  noted  as 
occurring  at  Mount  Moriah  ? 

A.     The  attempted  sacrifice  of  Isaac  by  Abraham. 

24.  Q.  What  mountain  near  Mount  Moriah  was 
the  home  of  David,  and  an  accepted  type  of  the  Church 
of  God.? 

A.  Beautiful  for  situation,  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,  is 
Mount  Zion,  on  the  sides  of  the  north,  the  city  of  the  great  King. 
Psalms  xlviii.  2. 

25.  ().  As  Mount  Sinai  was  referred  to  as  a  type  of 
the  Law,  how  is  Mount  Zion  named  as  a  type  of  Christ  ? 

A.  But  ye  are  come  unto  Mount  Sion,  and  unto  the  city  of 
the  living  God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable 
company  of  angels. 

To  the  general  assembly  and  church  of  the  firstborn,  which 
are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  God  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect. 

And  to  Jesus  the  mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  and  to  the 
blood  of  sprinkling,  that  speaketh  better  things  than  that  of  Abel. 
Heb.  xii.  22-24. 

26.  Q.  Against  what  mountain  was  Ezekiel  called 
to  prophesy  evil  ? 

A.  Son  of  man,  set  thy  face  against  Mount  Seir,  and  prophesy 
against  it. 


200  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

And  say  unto  it,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Behold,  O  Mount 
Seir,  I  am  against  thee,  and  I  will  stretch  out  mine  hand  against 
thee,  and  I  will  make  thee  most  desolate.     Ezek.  xxxv.  2,  3. 

27.  Q.  What  comfort  was  spoken,  at  the  same 
time,  by  Ezekiel,  to  the  mountains  of  Israel  ? 

A.  But  ye,  O  mountains  of  Israel,  ye  shall  shoot  forth  your 
branches,  and  yield  your  fruit  to  my  people  of  Israel ;  for  they 
are  at  hand  to  come.     Ezek.  xxxvi.  8. 

28.  Q.  What  mountain  was  a  favorite  resort  of 
Jesus  with  his  disciples  ? 

A.  And  he  came  out,  and  went,  as  he  was  wont,  to  the  Mount 
of  Olives  ;  and  his  disciples  also  followed  him.     Luke  xxii.  39. 

29.  Q.     Did  Jesus  ever  visit  this  mountain  alone? 

A.  And  when  he  had  sent  the  multitudes  away,  he  went  up 
into  a  mountain  apart  to  pray  :  and  when  the  evening  was  come, 
he  was  there  alone.     Matt.  xiv.  23. 

30.  Q.  What  was  the  place  of  the  transfiguration 
of  Jesus? 

A.  And  after  six  days  Jesus  taketh  with  him  Peter,  and 
James,  and  John,  and  leadeth  them  up  into  a  high  mountain 
apart  by  themselves :  and  he  was  transfigured  before  them. 
Mark  ix.  2. 

31.  Q.  What  mountain  is  this  supposed  to  have 
been? 

A.  It  has  been  generally  called  Tabor.  Some 
have  deemed  it  Hermon.  Yet  others  have  supposed 
it  one  of  the  mountains  near  Gennesareth. 

32.  Q.     On  what  mount  was  Jesus  crucified? 

A.  And  when  they  were  come  to  the  place  which  is  called 
Calvary,  there  they  crucified  him,  and  the  malefactors  ;  one  on 
the  right  hand,  and  the  other  on  the  left.     Luke  xxiii.  33. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  201 

33.  Q.  From  which  of  these  mountains  did  Jesus 
ascend  to  Heaven  ? 

A.  And  when  he  had  spoken  these  things,  while  they  beheld, 
he  was  taken  up ;  and  a  cloud  received  him  out  of  their  sight. 

Then  returned  they  unto  Jerusalem  from  the  mount  called 
Olivet,  which  is  from  Jerusalem  a  sabbath  day's  journey.  Acts 
i.  9,  12. 

34.  Q.  As  the  mountains  were  chosen  places  for 
the  worship  of  God  by  his  children,  were  they  ever 
used  for  idolatrous  worship  by  the  heathen  ? 

A.  Ye  shall  utterly  destroy  all  the  places,  wherein  the  nations 
which  ye  shall  possess  served  their  gods,  upon  the  high  moun- 
tains, and  upon  the  hills,  and  under  every  green  tree.  Deut. 
xii.  2. 

35.  Q.  Did  the  Israelites  ever  follow  the  heathen 
in  this  evil  worship  } 

A.  And  Judah  did  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  they 
provoked  him  to  jealousy  with  their  sins  which  they  had  com- 
mitted, above  all  that  their  fathers  had  done. 

For  they  also  built  them  high  places,  and  images,  and  groves, 
on  every  high  hill,  and  under  every  green  tree.  L  Kings  xiv. 
22,  23. 

36.  Q.  How  are  the  mountains  named  as  a  symbol 
of  protection  ? 

A.  As  the  mountains  are  round  about  Jerusalem,  so  the  Lord 
is  round  about  his  people  from  henceforth  even  for  ever.     Psalms 

CXXV.  2. 

37.  Q.     How  as  a  symbol  of  stability  ? 

A.  They  that  trust  in  the  Lord  shall  be  as  Mount  Zion, 
which  cannot  be  removed,  but  abideth  forever.     Psalms  cxxv.  i. 

38.  Q.     How  as  a  symbol  of  magnitude  ? 

A.     Thy  righteousness  is  like  the  great  mountains  ;  thy  judg- 


202  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  ^ 

ments  are  a   great   deep  :    O  Lord,  thou  preservest  man  and 
beast.     Psalms  xxxvi.  6. 

39.  (2-  How  are  they  named  as  a  source  of  hope 
and  help  ? 

A.  I  will  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  hills,  from  whence 
Cometh  my  help. 

My  help  cometh  from  the  Lord,  which  made  heaven  and 
earth.     Psalms  cxxi.  i,  2. 

How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that 
bringeth  good  tidings,  that  publisheth  peace  ;  that  bringeth  good 
tidings  of  good,  that  publisheth  salvation ;  that  saith  unto  Zion, 
Thy  God  reigneth  !     Isa.  lii.  7. 

The  superintendent  reads  or  recites  : 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days,  that  the  mountain 
of  the  Lord's  house  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tains, and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills ;  and  all  nations  shall 
flow  unto  it. 

And  many  people  shall  go  and  say,  Come  ye,  and  let  us  go  up 
to  the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob ; 
and  he  will  teach  us  of  his  ways,  and  we  will  walk  in  his  paths  : 
for  out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of  the  Lord 
from  Jerusalem.     Isa.  ii.  2,  3. 

The  pastor  adds : 

Truly  in  vain  is  salvation  hoped  for  from  the  hills,  and  from 
the  multitude  of  mountains  :  truly  in  the  Lord  our  God  is  the 
salvation  of  Israel.     Jer,  iii.  23. 

Yet  have  I  set  my  King  upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion. 

I  will  declare  the  decree  :  the  Lord  hath  said  unto  me.  Thou 
art  my  Son ;  this  day  have  I  begotten  thee.     Psalms  ii.  6,  7. 

The  assembly  responds  : 

God  hath  fulfilled  the  same  unto  us  their  children,  in  that  he 
hath  raised  up  Jesus  again  ;  as  it  is  also  written  in  the  second 
psalm,  Thou  art  my  Son,  this  day  have  I  begotten  thee.  Acts 
xiii.  33. 


THE    CHILDREN'S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  203 

All  join  in  a  closing  hymn  : 

I'm.  trying  to  climb  up  Zion's  Hill, 
For  the  Saviour  whispers,  "  Love  me." 

\Si71ging  Pilgrhn,  p.  27. 

It  will  be  well  to  have  a  map  of  Palestine  before  the 
assembly,  on  which  the  leader  shall  point  out  the 
several  mountains  as  they  are  named.  Or  he  can 
sketch  rudely  the  outlines  of  the  Holy  Land  on  the 
blackboard,  filling  in  the  mountams  in  their  proper 
places  as  they  are  mentioned.  In  doing  this  he  can 
question  the  assembly  as  to  the  locality  of  the  several 
mountains,  to  bring  out  the  scholars'  knowledge  of 
Bible  geography. 


LESSON    XII. 

MUSIC   AND  MUSICAL   INSTRUMENTS    OF   THE    BIBLE. 
[Arranged  from  a  lesson  by  Mrs.  McCalL] 

An  appropriate  opening  passage  is  Psalms  cxlviii., 
to  be  read  responsively. 

For  hymns,  either  of  the  following  will  answer : 
"Who  shall  sing  if  not  the  children  ? 

Did  not  Jesus  die  for  them '? 

{.Golden  Chain,  p.  14. 

Awake,  my  soul,  in  joyful  lays, 

And  sing  thy  great  Redeemer's  praise. 

\_Ani.  S.  S.  Hyvin  Book, p.  49. 

The  leader  should  call  attention  to  the  fact  that,  the 
Bible  references  to  these  instruments  being  brief  and 
merely  incidental,  it  is  not  easy  to  ascertain  just  what 
instrument  was  meant  by  a  particular  Hebrew  word ; 
hence  there  are  various  opinions  as  to  the  style  and 
form  of  a  number  of  these.  He  may  call  out  by  ques- 
tions the  fact  that  these  instruments  are  divided  into 
three  classes:  i.  Stringed  instruments;  2.  Wind  in- 
struments; 3.  Instruments  of  percussion.  The  black- 
board may  aid  him  in  showing  differences  in  these. 

GENERAL    EXERCISES. 

I.   Question.  Where  did  music  have  its  origin? 
Answer.  When  the  morning-stars  sang  together,  and  all  the 
sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy.     Job.  xxxviii.  7. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  205 

2.  Q.     Who   was    the    inventor  of  musical    instru- 
ments ? 

A.  Jubal :  he  was  the  father  of  all  such  as  handle  the  harp 
and  organ.     Gen.  iv.  21. 

3.  Q.  Will  you  name  any  stringed  instruments 
mentioned  in  the  Bible  t 

A.  I  will  also  praise  thee  with  the  psaltery,  even  thy  truth,  O 
my  God  :  unto  thee  will  I  sing  with  the  harp,  O  thou  Holy  One 
of  Israel.     Psalms  Ixxi.  22. 

4.  Q.     Can  you  name  another  of  this  class  ? 

A.  Take  thou  away  from  me  the  noise  of  thy  songs ;  for  I 
will  not  hear  the  melody  of  thy  viols.     Amos  v.  23. 

5.  (2-     Do  you  recall  another } 
A.     The  sackbut. 

Thou,  O  king,  hast  made  a  decree,  that  every  man  that  shall 
hear  the  sound  of  the  cornet,  flute,  harp,  sackbut,  psaltery,  and 
dulcimer,  and  all  kinds  of  music,  shall  fall  down  and  worship 
the  golden  image.     Dan.  iii.  10. 

6.  Q.     What  wind  instrument  can  you  name .'' 

A.  And  the  sons  of  Aaron,  the  priests,  shall  blow  with  the 
trumpets:  and  they  shall  be  to  you  for  an  ordinance  for  ever 
throughout  your  generations.     Num.  x.  8. 

7.  Q.     What  other  of  this  class  do  you  recall  t 

A.  With  trumpets,  and  sound  of  cornet,  make  a  joyful  noise 
before  the  Lord  the  King.     Psalms  xcviii.  6. 

8.  Q.     Do  you  remember  another  ? 

A.  My  harp  also  is  turned  to  mourning,  and  my  organ  into 
the  voice  of  them  that  weep.     Job  xxx.  31. 

9.  Q_.     Yet  another  ? 

A.  Ye  shall  have  a  song,  as  in  the  night,  when  a  holy 
solemnity  is  kept;   and  gladness  of  heart,  as  when  one  goeth 


206  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

with  a  pipe  to  come  into  the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  to  the  mighty- 
One  of  Israel.     Isa.  xxx.  29. 

10.  Q.     Do  you  remember  yet  others  of  this  class  ? 

A.     Flute  and  dulcimer. 

Now,  if  ye  be  ready,  that  at  what  time  ye  hear  the  sound  of 
the  cornet,  _/?//^,  harp,  sackbut,  psaltery,  and  dulcimer,  and  all 
kinds  of  music,  ye  fall  down  and  worship  the  image  which  I 
have  made,  well.     Dan.  iii.  15. 

11.  Q.  What  instrument  of  percussion  can  you 
mention  "i 

A.     Asaph  made  a  sound  with  cymbals.     I.  Chron.  xvi.  v. 

12.  Q.     What  other? 

A.  And  Jephthah  came  to  Mizpeh  unto  his  house,  and, 
behold,  his  daughter  came  out  to  meet  him  with  timbrels  and 
with  dances.     Judges  xi.  34. 

13.  Q.     What  other  ? 

A.  He  hath  made  me  also  a  by- word  of  the  people  ;  and  afore- 
time I  was  as  a  tabret.     Job  xvii.  6. 

14.  Q.     Yet  another  ? 

A.  In  that  day  shall  there  be  upon  the  bells  of  the  horses, 
Holiness  unto  the  Lord.     Zech.  xiv.  20. 

15.  (2-  Of  what  wood  were  these  instruments 
made  ? 

A.  And  David,  and  all  the  house  of  Israel,  played  before  the 
Lord  on  all  manner  of  instruments  made  of  fir-wood,  even  on 
harps,  and  on  psalteries,  and  on  timbrels,  and  on  cornets,  and  on 
cymbals.     II.  Sam.  vi.  5. 

And  the  king  made  of  the  almug-trees  pillars  for  the  house  of 
the  Lord,  and  for  the  king's  house,  harps  also  and  psalteries  for 
singers  :  there  came  no  such  almug-trees,  nor  were  seen  unto 
this  day.     I.  Kings  x.  12. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  20/ 

1 6.  Q.     Of  what  metals  ? 

A.     And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 

Make  thee  two  trumpets  of  silver  ;  of  a  whole  piece  shalt  thou 
make  them ;  that  thou  mayest  use  them  for  the  calling  of  the 
assembly,  and  for  the  journeying  of  the  camps.     Numb.  x.  i,  2. 

So  the  singers,  Heman,  Asaph,  and  Ethan,  were  appointed  to 
sound  with  cymbals  of  brass.     I.  Chron.  xv.  19. 

17.  Q.     Were  they  ever  made  of  other  material  ? 

A.  And  seven  priests  shall  bear  before  the  ark  seven  trum- 
pets of  rams'  horns ;  and  the  seventh  day  ye  shall  compass 
the  city  seven  times,  and  the  priests  shall  blow  with  the  trumpets. 
Josh.  vi.  4. 

18.  Q.  What  is  the  evidence  •  that  music  formed 
an  important  part  in  the  religious  worship  of  the 
Jews  ^ 

A.  And  David  and  all  Israel  played  before  God  with  all 
their  might,  and  with  singing,  and  with  harps,  and  with  psalteries, 
and  with  timbrels,  and  with  cymbals,  and  with  trumpets. 
I,  Chron.  xiii.  8. 

And  Hezekiah  commanded  to  offer  the  burnt-offering  upon  the 
altar  :  and  when  the  burnt-offering  began,  the  song  of  the  Lord 
began  also  with  the  trumpets,  and  with  the  instruments  ordained 
by  David  king  of  Israel. 

And  all  the  congregation  worshiped,  and  the  singers  sang, 
and  the  trumpeters  sounded  :  and  all  this  continued  until  the 
burnt-offering  was  finished.     II.  Chron.  xxix.  27,  28. 

19.  Q.  Is  there  any  evidence  that  music  had  also 
a  place  in  idolatrous  worship  ? 

A.  Therefore  at  that  time,  when  all  the  people  heard  the 
sound  of  the  cornet,  flute,  harp,  sackbut,  psaltery,  and  all  kinds 
of  music,  all  the  people,  the  nations,  and  the  languages,  fell 
down  and  worshiped  the  golden  image  that  Nebuchadnezzar 
the  king  had  set  up.     Dan.  iii.  7. 


208  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

20.  Q.     Was  music  employed  at  seasons  of  general 
or  national  rejoicing  ? 

A.  And  Miriam  the  prophetess,  the  sister  of  Aaron,  took  a 
timbrel  in  her  hand ;  and  all  the  women  went  out  after  her  with 
timbrels  and  with  dances. 

And  Miriam  answered  them.  Sing  ye  to  the  Lord,  for  he  hath 
triumphed  gloriously ;  the  horse  and  his  rider  hath  he  thrown 
into  the  sea.     Ex.  xv.  20,  21. 

21.  Q.  Is  there  mention  of  its  use  in  welcoming 
victorious  chieftains  .? 

A.  And  it  came  to  pass  as  they  came,  when  David  was  re- 
turned from  the  slaughter  of  the  Philistine,  that  the  women 
came  out  of  all  cities  of  Israel,  singing  and  dancing,  to  meet 
king  Saul,  with  tabrets,  with  joy,  and  with  instruments  of  miusic. 

And  the  women  answered  one  another  as  they  played,  and 
said,  Saul  hath  slain  his  thousands,  and  David  his  ten  thousands. 
I.  Sam.  xviii.  6,  7. 

22.  Q.  Had  it  a  place  on  the  occasion  of  the  de- 
parture of  friends .? 

A.  Wherefore  didst  thou  flee  away  secretly,  and  steal  away 
from  me,  and  didst  not  tell  me,  that  I  might  have  sent  thee  away 
with  mirth,  and  with  songs,  with  tabret,  and  with  harp }  Gen. 
xxxi.  27. 

23.  Q'  Was  it  employed  in  rejoicing  over  the 
return  of  friends .? 

A.  Now  his  elder  son  was  in  the  field  :  and  as  he  came  and 
drew  nigh  to  the  house,  he  heard  music  and  dancing.    Luke  xv.  25. 

24.  Q.  \Vhat  mention  is  made  of  its  use  at  the 
coronation  of  a  king  ? 

A.  And  Zadok  the  priest  took  an  horn  of  oil  out  of  the  taber- 
nacle, and  anointed  Solomon  :  and  they  blew  the  trumpet  /  and 
all  the  people  said,  God  save  king  Solomon, 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  209' 

And  all  the  people  came  up  after  him  ;  and  the  people  piped 
with  pipes,  and  rejoiced  with  great  joy,  so  that  the  earth  rent 
with  the  somid  of  them.     I.  Kings  i.  39,  40. 

25.  Q.  What  passages  go  to  prove  that  refraining 
from  music  indicated  sorrow  and  sadness  ? 

A.  By  the  rivers  of  Babylon,  there  we  sat  down ;  yea,  we 
wept,  when  we  remembered  Zion. 

We  hanged  our  harp^  upon  the  willows  in  the  midst  thereof. 

For  there  they  that  carried  us  away  captive  required  of  us  a 
song ;  and  they  that  wasted  us  required  of  us  mirth,  saying.  Sing 
us  one  of  the  sdngs  of  Zion. 

How  shall  we  sing  the  Lord's  song  in  a  strange  land .'' 
Psalms  cxxxvii.  1-4. 

The  new  wine  mourneth,  the  vine  languisheth,  all  the  merry- 
hearted  do  sigh. 

The  mirth  of  tabrets  ceaseth,  the  noise  of  them  that  rejoice 
endeth,  the  joy  of  the  harp  ceaseth.     Isa.  xxiv.  7,  8. 

26.  Q.  What  mention  is  made  of  the  calming  power 
of  music  over  the  disturbed  spirit  ? 

A.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  evil  spirit  from  God  was 
upon  Saul,  that  David  took  an  harp,  and  played  with  his  hand : 
so  Saul  was  refreshed,  and  was  well,  and  the  evil  spirit  departed 
from  him.     1.  Sam.  xvi.  23. 

27.  Q.  What  instance  is  given  of  EHsha's  desir- 
ing the  aid  of  music  when  he  sought  inspiration  of 
God? 

A.  And  Elisha  said,  As  the  Lord  of  hosts  liveth,  before 
whom  I  stand,  surely,  were  it  not  that  I  regard  the  presence  of 
Jehoshaphat  the  king  of  Judah,  I  would  not  look  toward  thee, 
nor  see  thee. 

But  now  bring  me  a  minstrel.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the 
minstrel  played,  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  came  upon  him. 
II.  Kings  iii.  14,  15. 


210  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

28.  Q.  Is  music  named  as  an  appropriate  mode  of 
expressing  Christian  joy  ? 

A.     Is  any  merry  ?  let  him  sing  psalms.     James  v.  13. 

Speaking  to  yom'selves  in  psalms,  and  hymns,  and  spiritual 
songs,  singing  and  making  melody  in  your  heart  to  the  Lord  ; 

Giving  thanks  always  for  all  things  unto  God  and  the  Father 
in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     Eph.  v.  19,  20. 

29.  Q.  What  reason  have  we  for  believing  that 
Jesus  joined  in  singing  ? 

A.  And  when  they  had  sung  an  hymn,  they  went  out  into 
the  Mount  of  Olives.     Matt.  xxvi.  30. 

30.  Q.  What  is  the  evidence  that  there  will  be 
music  in  Heaven  ? 

A.  As  well  the  singers  as  the  players  on  insti-uments  shall  be 
there.     Psalms  Ixxxvii.  7. 

And  I  saw  as  it  were  a  sea  of  glass  mingled  with  fire ;  and 
them  that  had  gotten  the  victory  over  the  beast,  and  over  his 
image,  and  over  his  mark,  and  over  the  number  of  his  name, 
stand  on  the  sea  of  glass,  having  the  harps  of  God. 

And  they  sing  the  song  of  Moses  the  servant  of  God,  and  the 
song  of  the  Lamb,  saying,  Great  and  marvellous  are  thy  works, 
Lord  God  Almighty ;  just  and  true  a;re  thy  ways,  thou  King  of 
saints.     Rev.  xv.  2,  3. 

31.  Q.  Who  are  to  join  in  the  "new  song"  in 
Heaven  ? 

A.  And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven,  as  the  voice  of  many 
waters,  and  as  the  voice  of  a  great  thunder  :  and  I  heard  the 
voice  of  harpers  harping  with  their  harps  : 

And  they  sung  as  it  were  a  new  song  before  the  throne,  and 
before  the  four  beasts,  and  the  elders  :  and  no  man  could  learn 
that  song  but  the  hundred  and  forty  and  four  thousand,  which 
were  redeemed  from  the  earth.     Rev.  xiv.  2,  3. 

The  entire  assembly,  rising,  join  in  reciting  Psalm  cb 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  211 

Praise  ye  the  Lord.  Praise  God  in  his  sanctuary  :  praise  him 
in  the  firmament  of  his  power. 

Praise  him  for  his  mighty  acts  :  praise  him  according  to  his 
excellent  greatness. 

Praise  him  with  the  sound  of  the  trumpet :  praise  him  with 
the  psaltery  and  harp. 

Praise  him  with  the  timbrel  and  dance :  praise  him  with 
stringed  instruments  and  organs. 

Praise  him  upon  the  loud  cymbals  :  praise  him  upon  the  high- 
sounding  cymbals. 

Let  every  thing  that  hath  breath  praise  the  Lord.  Praise  ye 
the  Lord. 

The  exercises  close  with  singing  : 

Shall  we  sing  in. heaven  for  ever — 

Shall  we  sing }  shall  we  sing  ? 

[Golden  Chain,  p.  34. 

SERMONS    IN    BIBLE    LANGUAGE. 

Another  approved  style  of  general  biblical  exercises 
for  the  children's  service  is  a  sermon  exclusively  in 
Bible  language.  The  skeleton,  or  plan,  of  a  sermon  is 
prepared  in  advance — the  text  and  general  heads  or 
divisions  of  its  treatment  being  announced  to  the 
school.  These  heads  are  then  assigned  to  particular 
classes,  or  to  individual  scholars,  for  Bible  illustration 
or  enforcement.  On  the  concert  Sabbath,  after  ordi- 
nary opening  exercises,  the  pastor  or  superintendent 
announces  the  text,  the  general  heads  are  then  stated 
by  the  teachers,  in  course,  and  the  proofs  or  illustra- 
tions are  recited  consecutively  by  the  scholars.  Thus 
an  important  Bible  truth  is  presented,  and  an  elaborate 
sermon  preached,  all  in  the  words  of  inspired  wisdom, 


212  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

with  the  attractiveness  and  variety  of  different  children's 
voices,  and  with  the  impressiveness  and  authority  of 
Holy  Writ. 

The  text  maybe  shown  stenciled  on  the  "song-roll," 
or  illuminated  on  a  muslin  banner,  or  it  may  be  dis- 
played on  the  blackboard,  with  the  sermon  synopsis 
added,  point  by  point,  as  the  recitation  progresses. 
The  exercise  may  be  broken  by  the  occasional  singing 
of  a  verse  or  two  of  an  appropriate  hymn,  and  enlivened 
by  illustrations  or  explanations,  according  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  leader. 

The  idea  of  this  exercise  is  capable  of  indefinite 
expansion,  and  by  an  ingenious  Bible  student  and 
lover  of  the  truth  can  be  made  uniformly  pleasing  and 
profitable.  _It  furnishes  every  opportunity  for  preach- 
ing the  great  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  afforded  by  the 
ordinary  uninspired  sermon,  while  divine  precept,  par- 
able, narrative,  promise  and  poem,  may  be  brought 
out  separately  in  their  beauty  and  power,  or  intro- 
duced as  aids  in  unfolding  and  enforcing  other  great 
truths. 

The  following  lessons  are  kindly  furnished  as  speci- 
mens of  this  class  of  exercise,  by  Rev.  J.  Aspinwall 
HodgCj  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Hartford, 
Ct.,  who  has  been  peculiarly  successful  in  its  use  with 
the  children  of  his  parish,  and  has  accumulated  in 
such  labor  a  large  variety  of  sermons  of  this  peculiar 
character. 


LESSON    XIII. 

THE     GOOD     SHEPHERD. 

As  an  appropriate  Scripture  reading  with  this  lesson, 
I.  Samuel  xvi.  1-13  is  named. 

For  hymns,  either  of  the  following  may  be  used : 

The  Lord  my  Shepherd  is ; 
I  shall  be  well  supplied. 

[A  m.  S  S  HyMi7i  Book^  p.  75. 
See  Israel's  gentle  Shepherd  stand, 
With  all  engaging  charms. 

\^Neiv  Golden  Chain,  p-  97. 
Saviour,  like  a  shepherd,  lead  us ; 

Much  we  need  thy  tender  care. 

\_Song  Flowers,  p.  5. 

I  AM  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD.  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD  GIVETH 
HIS  LIFE  FOR  THE  SHEEP.      John  X.   II. 

I.      Who  is  this  Shepherd'^ 
I.     Jesus  is  our  Shepherd. 

The  Lord  is  my  shepherd  ;  I  shall  not  want.     Psalms  xxiii.  i. 

Give  ear,  O  Shepherdof  Israel*  thou  that  leadest  Joseph  like 
a  flock ;  thou  that  dwellest  between  the  cherubim,  shine  forth. 
Psalms  Ixxx.  i. 

And  I  will  set  up  one  Shepherd  over  them,  and  he  shall  feed 
them,  even  my  servant  David.     Ezek.  xxxiv.  23. 

And  David  my  servant  shall  be  king  over  them  :  and  they 
all  shall  have  one  shepherd.     Ezek.  xxxvii.  24. 

I  Jesus  have  sent  mine  angel  to  testify  unto  you  these  things 
in   the  churches.      I  am  the  root  and  the  offspring  of  David,  y 
Rev.  xxii.  16. 


214  THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

For  ye  were  as  sheep  going  astray^  but  are  now  returned  unto 
the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  your  souls.     I.  Pet.  ii.  25. 

The  God  of  peace,  that  brought  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord 
Jesus,  that  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the 
everlasting  covenant.     Heb.  xiii,  20. 

2.  Jesus  is  our  good  Shepherd. 
I  am  the  good  shepherd.     John  x.   14. 

0  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good  :  blessed  is  the  man  that 
trusteth  in  him.     Ps.  xxxiv.  8. 

Truly  God  is  good  to  Israel,  even  to  such  as  are  of  a  clean 
heart.     Ps.  Ixxiii.   i. 

And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Why  callest  thou  me  good  ?  none  is 
good,  save  one,  that  is,  God.     Luke  xviii.  19. 

II.     How  does  Jesus  behave  toivards  his  sheep  ? 

3.  Jesus  knows  his  sheep. 

1  am  the  good  shepherd,  and  know  my  sheep,  and  am  known 
of  mine,     John  x.  14. 

Nevertheless  the  foundation  of  God  standeth  sure,  having  this 
seal,  The  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are  his.     II.  Tim.  ii.  19. 

To  him  the  porter  bpeneth  :  and  the  sheep  hear  his  voice : 
and  he  calleth  his  own  sheep  by  name,  and  leadeth  them  out. 
John  X.  3. 

4.  Jesus  loves  his  sheep. 

He  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his 
bosom,  and  shall  gently  lead  those  that  are  with  young.  Isa. 
xl.  II. 

The  Lord  hath  appeared  of  old  unto  me,  saying,  Yea,  I  have 
loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love  ;  therefore  with  loving-kind 
ness  have  I  drawn  thee.     Jer.  xxxi.  3. 

A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you.  That  ye  love  one 
another ;  as  I  have  loved  you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another. 
John  xiii.  34. 

Now,  before  the  feast  of  the  passover,  when  Jesus  knew  that 


THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE.  21 5 

his  hour  was  come  that  he  should  depart  out  of  this  world  unto 
the  Father,  having  loved  his  own  which  were  in  the  world,  he 
loved  them  unto  the  end.     John  xiii.  i. 

5.  Jesus  feeds  his  sheep. 

I  will  feed  my  flock,  and  I  will  cause  them  to  lie  down,  saith 
the  Lord  God.     Ezek.  xxxiv.  15. 

He  shall  feed  his  flock  like  a  shepherd.     Isa.  xl.  ii. 

He  shall  feed  them,  and  he  shall  be  their  shepherd.  Ezek. 
xxxiv.  23. 

He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures  :  he  leadeth  me 
beside  the  still  waters.     Psalms  xxiii.  2. 

6.  Jesus  protects  his  sheep. 

Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  O  ye  nations,  and  declare  it  in  the 
isles  afar  oft',  and  say.  He  that  scattered  Israel  will  gather  him, 
and  keep  him,  as  a  shepherd  doth  his  flock.     Jer.  xxxi.  10. 

As  a  shepherd  seeketh  out  his  flock  in  the  day  that  he  is 
among  his  sheep  that  are  scattered  ;  so  will  I  seek  out  my  sheep, 
and  will  deliver  them  out  of  all  places  where  they  have  been 
scattered  in  the  cloudy  and  dark  day.     Ezek.  xxxiv,  12. 

And  they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck  them  out 
of  my  hand.     John  x.  28. 

7.  Jesus  giveth  his  life  for  the  sheep. 

As  the  Father  knoweth  me,  even  so  know  I  the  Father :  and  I 
lay  down  my  life  for  the  sheep.     John  x.  15. 

But  he  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  he  was  bruised 
for  our  iniquities  :  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  v.'as  upon  him  ; 
and  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed.     Isa.  liii.  5. 

Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his 
life  for  his  friends.     John  xv.  13. 

III.     How  do  the  sheep  behave  towards  Jesus  ? 

8.  The  sheep  belong  to  Jesus. 

I  have  manifested  thy  name  unto  the  men  which  thou  gavest 


2l6  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

me  out  of  the  world  :  thine  they  were,  ^nd  thou  gavest  them  me. 
John  xvii.  6. 

And  they  shall  be  mine,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  in  that  day 
when  I  make  up  my  jewels  ;  and  I  will  spare  them,  as  a  man 
spareth  his  own  son  that  serveth  him.     Mai.  iii.  17. 

My  beloved  is  mine,  and  I  am  his ;  he  feedeth  among  the 
lilies.     Cant.  ii.  16. 

9.  The  sheep  know  Jesus'  voice. 

I  am  the  good  shepherd,  and  know  my  sheep,  and  am  known 
of  mine.     John  x.  14. 

J^'or  they  know  his  voice.     John  x.  4. 

Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door,  and  knock  :  if  any  man  hear  my 
voice,  and  open  the  door,  I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup 
with  him,  and  he  with  me.     Rev.  iii.  20. 

10.  The  sheep  love  Jesus. 

Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death, 
I  will  fear  no  evil :  for  thou  art  with  me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff 
they  comfort  me.     Psalms  xxiii.  4. 

Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is  none  upon 
earth  that  I  desire  besides  thee.     Psalms  Ixxiii.  25. 

Tell  me,  O  thou  whom  my  soul  loveth,  where  thou  feedest, 
where  thou  makest  thy  flock  to  rest  at  noon  :  for  why  should  I 
be  as  one  that  turneth  aside  by  the  flocks  of  thy  companions  ? 
Cant.  i.  7. 

11.  The  sheep  follow  Jesus. 

My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I  know  them,  and  they  follow 
me.     John  x.  27. 

And  when  he  putteth  forth  his  own  sheep,  he  goeth  before 
them,  and  the  sheep  follow  him.     John  x.  4. 

These  are  they  Avhich  follow  the  Lamb  whithersoever  he 
goeth.  These  were  redeemed  from  among  men,  being  the  first- 
fruits  unto  God  and  to  the  Lamb.     Rev.  xiv.  4. 

IV.     How  do  the  sheep  behave  towards  others  ? 

12.  .They  do  not  know  others. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  21/ 

All  that  ever  came  before  me  are  thieves  and  robbers  :  but  the 
sheep  did  not  hear  them.     John  x.  8. 

A  froward  heart  shall  depart  from  me  :  I  will  not  know  a 
wicked  person.     Psalms  ci.  4. 

13.  They  will  not  follow  others. 

And  a  stranger  will  they  not  follow,  but  will  flee  from  him ; 
for  they  know  not  the  voice  of  strangers.     John  x.  5. 

Then  Simon  Peter  answered  him,  Lord,  to  whom  shall  we  go  ? 
Thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal  life.     John  vL  68. 

V.     How  do  others  behave  towards  the  sheep  ? 

14.  They  hate  the  sheep. 

I  have  given  them  thy  word  ;  and  the  world  hath  hated  them, 
because  they  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world. 
John  xvii.  14. 

Marvel  not,  my  brethren,  if  the  world  hate  you.     L  John  iii.  13. 

If  ye  were  of  the  world,  the  world  would  love  his  own ;  but 
because  ye  are  not  of  the  world,  but  I  have  chosen  you  out  of 
the  world,  therefore  the  world  hateth  you.     John  xv.  19. 

15.  They  tempt  the  sheep  to  wander  from  Jesus. 
For  among  my  people  are  found  wicked  men  :  they  lay  wait, 

as  he  that  setteth  snares  ;  they  set  a  trap,  they  catch  men.     Jer. 
V.  26. 

For  they  sleep  not,  except  they  have  done  mischief;  and  their 
sleep  is  taken  away,  unless  they  cause  some  to  fall.     Prov.  iv.  16. 

16.  They  seek  to  destroy  the  sheep. 

The  thief  cometh  not,  but  for  to  steal,  and  to  kill,  and  to  de- 
stroy.    John  X.  10. 

Their  feet  run  to  evil,  and  they  make  haste  to  shed  innocent 
blood ;  their  thoughts  are  thoughts  of  iniquity ;  wasting  and  de- 
struction are  in  their  paths.     Isa.  lix.  7. 

Be  sober,  be  vigilant ;  because  your  adversary  the  devil,  as  a 
roaring  lion,  walketh  about,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour.  I. 
Pet.  v.  8. 


2l8  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

VI.      What  results  from  these  efforts  of  others  ? 

17.  The  sheep  sometimes  wander  from  Jesus. 

And  they  were  scattered,  because  there  is  no  shepherd  :  and 
they  became  meat  to  all  the  beasts  of  the  field,  when  they  were 
scattered. 

My  sheep  wandered  through  all  the  mountains,  and  upon 
every  high  hill :  yea,  my  flock  was  scattered  upon  all  the  face  of 
the  earth,  and  none  did  search  or  seek  after  them.  Ezek. 
xxxiv.  5,  6. 

All  we,  like  sheep,  have  gone  astray ;  we  have  turned  every 
one  to  his  own  way ;  and  the  Lord  hath  laid  on  him  the  iniquity 
of  us  all.     Isa.  liii.  6. 

18.  The  sheep  sometimes  are  wounded. 

But  he  that  is  a  hireling,  and  not  the  shepherd,  whose  own  the 
sheep  are  not,  seeth  the  wolf  coming,  and  leaveth  the  sheep,  and 
fleeth  ;  and  the  wolf  catcheth  them,  and  scattereth  the  sheep. 
John  X.  12. 

For  she  hath  cast  down  many  wounded ;  yea,  many  strong 
men  have  been  slain  by  her,     Prov.  vii.  26. 

My  flock  became  a  prey,  and  my  flock  became  meat  to  every 
beast  of  the  field,  because  there  was  no  shepherd,  neither  did 
my  shepherds  search  for  my  flock,  but  the  shepherds  fed  them- 
selves, and  fed  not  my  flock.     Ezek.  xxxiv.  8. 

VII.  What  results  from  the  love  of  Jesus  for  his 
sheep  ? 

ig,     Jesus  seeks  and  brings  back  the  wanderers. 

For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God:  Behold,  I,  even  I,  will  both 
search  my  sheep,  and  seek  them  out. 

I  will  seek  that  which  was  lost,  and  bring  again  that  which 
was  driven  away.     Ezek.  xxxiv.  11,  16. 

And  I  will  gather  the  remnant  of  my  flock  out  of  all  countries 
whither  I  have  driven  them,  and  will  bring  them  again  to  their 
folds  ;  and  they  shall  be  fruitful  and  increase.     Jer.  xxiii.  3. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  219 

20.  Jesus  heals  the  wounded  sheep. 

I  will  heal  their  backsliding,  I  will  love  them  freely.  Hos. 
xiv.  4. 

And  will  bind  up  that  which  was  broken,  and  will  strengthen 
that  which  was  sick.     Ezek.  xxxiv.  16. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me,  because  he  hath  anointed 
me  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor  ;  he  hath  sent  me  to  heal 
the  broken-hearted,  to  preach  deliverance  to  the  captives,  and 
recovering  of  sight  to  the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are 
bruised.     Luke  iv.  18. 

21.  Jesus  brings  all  the  sheep  at  last  to  a  safe  and 
happy  fold. 

I  give  unto  them  eternal  life ;  and  they  shall  never  perish, 
neither  shall  any  man  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand.     John  x.  28. 

I  will  feed  them  in  a  good  pasture,  and  upon  the  high  moun- 
tains of  Israel  shall  their  fold  be  :  there  shall  they  lie  in  a  good 
fold,  and  in  a  fat  pasture  shall  they  feed  upon  the  mountains  of 
Israel.     Ezek.  xxxiv.  14. 

They  shall  be  abundantly  satisfied  with  the  fatness  of  thy 
house ;  and  thou  shalt  make  them  drink  of  the  river  of  thy 
pleasures.     Psalms  xxxvi.  8. 

For  the  Lamb,  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  shall  feed 
them,  and  shall  lead  them  unto  living  fountains  of  waters ;  and 
God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes.     Rev.  vii.  17. 

In  the  two  following  lessons  only  the  plan  of  the 
sermons  is  given.  The  scholars  and  teachers  may  be 
left  to  select  appropriate  texts  in  proof  or  illustration 
of  the  subdivisions  assigned  to  them ;  or  the  leader 
can  find  fitting  Scripture  passages,  and  give  out  their 
references  in  advance. 


LESSON   XlV. 

god's  love. 

God  commendeth  his  love  toward  us,  in  that  while 
we  were  yet  sinners,  christ  died  for  us.    rom.  v.  8. 

I.     TJie  stre7igfh  of  God's  love  for  us. 

1.  God's  love  is  greater  than  that  of  friend  for 
friend. 

2.  Bible  illustration  of  the  love  of  friends. 

3.  God's  love  is  greater  than  that  of  parents  for 
children. 

4.  Bible  illustration  of  parental  love. 

5.  God's  love  is  greater  than  the  love  of  a  brother. 

6.  Bible  illustration  of  a  brother's  love. 

II.  The  character  of  God's  love, 

7.  God's  love  provides  for  us. 

8.  God's  love  defends  us. 

9.  God's  love  is  unchangeable. 

10.  God's  love  is  undeserved  by  us. 

11.  God's  love  is  unwilling  that  we  should  perish. 

12.  God  loved  us  while  we  were  yet  sinners. 

13.  God's  love  sent  Christ  to  die  for  us. 

III.  Our  duty  in  view  of  God's  love, 

14.  We  ought  to  love  God. 

IV.  The  proof  of  our  love  for  him. 

15.  If  we  love  God  we  shall  serve  him. 


LESSON    XV. 

JESUS    OUR     EXEMPLAR. 

Let  this  mind  be  in  you  which  was  also  in  Christ 
Jesus.    Phil.  ii.  5. 

I.  jfesus  furnishes  an  example  unto  us. 

1.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  God  .? 

2.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  his  parents  ? 

3.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  children  ? 

4.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  the  poor  ? 

5.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  the  ignorant.-* 

6.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  the  suffering  ? 

7.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  his  friends  ? 

8.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  his  enemies  ? 

9.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  sinners  .'' 

10.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  his  disciples? 

11.  How  did  Jesus  behave  towards  those  who  would 
not  believe  ? 

12.  How  did  Jesus  behave  when  tempted  ? 

13.  How  did  Jesus  behave  when  afflicted? 

14.  How  did  Jesus  behave  when  insulted  ? 

15.  How  did  Jesus  behave  when  dying  ? 

II.     ITow  we  ca?i  follow  the  example  set  us. 
'    16.     How  can  we  have  this  mind  which  was  in  Christ 
Jesus  ? 


;22  ^THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE. 


ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  CLASS  MOTTOES. 

It  is  quite  common  for  Sunday-school  classes  to 
adopt  special  names,  with  appropriate  Scripture  texts 
as  mottoes.  By  these  names  the  classes  are  often 
known  as  auxiliary  branches  of  the  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation of  the  entire  school.  Sometimes  the  classes 
have  banners  on  which  are  inscribed  these  names  and 
mottoes,  or  illuminate^  cards  giving  the  texts  and 
titles  are  suspended  on  the  school-room  walls,  above 
the  class-seats. 

The  following  are  named  as  specimens  of  this  style 
of  class  names  and  mottoes  : 

CROWN    SEEKERS. 

Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temptation  :  for  when  he  is 
tried,  he  shall  receive  the  crown  of  life,  which  the  Lord  hath 
promised  to  them  that  love  him.     James  i.  12. 

CHEERFUL   GIVERS. 

Every  man  according  as  he  purposeth  in  his  heart,  so  let  him 
give  ;  not  grudgingly,  or  of  necessity  :  for  God  loveth  a  cheerful 
giver.     II.  Cor.  ix,  7. 

SOLDIERS   OF  THE   CROSS. 

Thou  therefore  endure  hardness,  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus 
Christ.     IL  Tim.  ii.  3. 

CASKET   OF  JEWELS. 

And  they  shall  be  mine,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  in  that  day 
when  I  make  up  my  jewels ;  and  I  will  spare  them,  as  a  man 
spareth  his  own  son  that  serveth  him.     Mai.  iii.  17. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  223 

THE   UNITED   BAND. 

Two  are  better  than  one ;  because  they  have  a  good  reward 
for  their  labor.     Eccl.  iv.  9. 

YOUTHFUL   DISCIPLES. 

We  love  him,  because  he  first  loved  us.     I.  John  iv.  19. 

A  profitable  exercise  is  the  illustration  of  these  class 
mottoes  by  Scripture  texts.  Two  or  three  of  them 
may  be  thus  illustrated  as  an  entire  exercise  for  a 
concert  Sabbath,  or  one  of  them  may  be  thus  pre- 
sented at  the  close  of  an  ordinary  school  session,  or  in 
connection  with  a  sermon  or  address  to  the  children 
on  any  special  occasion. 

John  B.  Smith,  superintendent  of  the  Congregational 
church  Sunday-school,  at  East  Hartford,  Conn.,  has 
arranged  many  of  these  exercises.  Specimens  of  his 
work  are  given  in  the  next  two  lessons. 


LESSON    XVI. 


BIBLE    LOVERS. 


Class  Motto.  Search  the  Scriptures  ;  for  in  them  ye  think  ye 
have  eternal  life  :  and  they  are  they  which  testify  of  me.  John 
V.  39- 

The  motto  is  first  recited  by  the  entire  class. 

The  superintendent  asks  : 

Why  search  the  Scriptures  .'* 

The  class  replies : 

The  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul ;  the  testi- 
mony of  the  Lord  is  sure,  making  wise  the  simple. 

The  statutes  of  the  Lord  are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart :  the 
commandment  of  the  Lord  is  pure,  enlightening  the  eyes. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  clean,  enduring  forever  :  the  judg- 
ments of  the  Lord  are  true  and  righteous  altogether.  Psalms 
xix.  7-9. 

Superintendent.  Will  you  give  some  illustration  of 
this  Scripture  searching.? 

Class.     It  is  said  of  the  Jews  in  Berea : 

These  were  more  noble  than  those  in  Thessalonica,  in  that 
they  received  the  word  with  all  readiness  of  mind,  and  searched 
the  Scriptures  daily,  whether  those  things  were  so.     Acts  xvii.  1 1. 

Superintendent.     What  came  of  this  ? 

Class.  Therefore  many  o-f  them  believed ;  also  of  honorable 
women  which  were  Greeks,  and  of  men,  not  a  few.  Acts 
xvii.  12. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  225 

Superintendent.  Has  the  teacher  anything *to  say  of 
this  searching  for  Scripture  truths  ? 

Teacher.  More  to  be  desired  are  they  than  gold,  yea,  than 
much  fine  gold  :  sweeter  also  than  honey  and  the  honeycomb. 

Moreover  by  them  is  thy  servant  warned  :  and  in  keeping  of 
them  there  is  great  reward.     Psalms  xix.  lo,  ii.     " 

Superintendent.  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the 
Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches.     Rev.  ii.  7. 

Therefore  shall  ye  lay  up  these  my  words  in  your  heart  and  in 
your  soul,  and  bind  them  for  a  sign  upon  your  hand,  that  they 
may  be  as  frontlets  between  your  eyes. 

And  ye  shall  teach  them  your  children,  speaking  of  them  when 
thou  sittest  in  thine  house,  and  when  thou  walkest  by  the  way, 
when  thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up. 

And  thou  shalt  write  them  upon  the  door-posts  of  thine  house, 
and  upon  thy  gates  : 

That  your  days  may  be  multiplied,  and  the  days  of  your  chil- 
dren, in  the  land  which  the  Lord  sware  unto  your  fathers  to  give 
them,  as  the  days  of  heaven  upon  the  earth.     Deut.  xi.  18-21. 

The  pastor  adds : 

But  be  ye  doers  of  the  word,  and  not  hearers  only,  deceiving 
your  own  selves. 

For  if  any  be  a  hearer  of  the  word,  and  not  a  doer,  he  is  like 
unto  a  man  beholding  his  natural  face  in  a  glass  :  For  he  be- 
holdeth  himself,  and  goeth  his  way,  and  straightway  forgetteth 
what  manner  of  man  he  was.     James  i.  22-24. 

The  school  joins  in  singing: 

Thank  God  for  the  Bible !  'tis  there  that  we  find 
The  story  of  Christ  and  his  love. 

\_Am.  S.  S,  Hymn-Book, p.  98. 


10* 


LESSON     XVII. 


-i^ 


WORKERS    FOR   JESUS. 

Class  Motto.     He  that  winneth  souls  is  wise.     Prov.  xi.  30. 

Superintendent.     How  are  souls  to  be  won  ? 

Answer  No.  1.  By  having  in  us  the  Hfe  and  Hght  of 
Christ. 

That  ye  may  be  blameless  and  harmless,  the  sons  of  God, 
without  rebuke,  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  perverse  nation, 
among  whom  ye  shine  as  lights  in  the  world,     Phil.  ii.  15. 

Answer  No.  2.     By  earnest  entreaty. 

Now  then  we  are  ambassadors  for  Christ,  as  though  God  did 
beseech  you  by  us  :  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  recon- 
ciled to  God.     II.  Cor.  V.  20. 

Answer  No.  3.     By  faithful,  consistent  living. 

Take  heed  unto  thyself,  and  unto  the  doctrine ;  continue  in 
them  :  for  in  doing  this  thou  shalt  both  save  thyself,  and  them 
that  hear  thee.     I.  Tim.  iv.  16. 

Answer  No.  4.     By  united  prayer. 

Again  I  say  unto  you,  That  if  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth 
as  touching  any  thing  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for 
them  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.     Matt,  xviii.  19. 

Superintendent.  What  are  the  motives  to,  or  rewards 
for,*  this  work  for  souls  ? 

Teacher.  Let  him  know,  that  he  which  converteth  the  sinner 
from  the  error  of  his  way  shall  save  a  soul  from  death,  and  shall 
hide  a  multitude  of  sins.     Jas.  v.  20. 

Superintendent.     And  they  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the 


THE    CHILDREN  S    BIBLE    SERVICE.  22/ 

brightness   of   the   firmament ;    and    they  that   turn   many  to 
righteousness  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever.     Dan.  xii.  3. 
All  join  in  singing : 

Brother,  you  may  work  for  Jesus.    [Singing  Pilgrim,  p.  91. 


SUGGESTIONS    TO    THE    LEADER. 

All  the  foregoing  lessons  are  published  originally  in 
this  volume,  none  of  them  having  previously  appeared 
in  print.  Quite  a  number  of  similar  exercises  suitable 
for  the  children's  Bible  service  have,  however,  been 
published  from  time  to  time  in  the  various  Sunday- 
school  periodicals  in  our  land.  An  interesting  series 
on  the  natural  history  of  the  Bible,  with  rhymed  ques- 
tions and  opening  and  closing  stanzas,  from  the  pen  of 
Mrs.  Mary  B.  C.  Slade,  has  appeared  in  the  Sunday- 
school  Teacher,  of  Chicago.  Recitations  arranged  for 
a  given  number  of  voices,  on  themes  like  the  Holy 
Land  and  the  Holy  City,  with  texts  and  hymns  appro- 
priately interchanged,  have  been  presented  in  the  Sun- 
day-School Journal,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
A  number  of  topical  lessons,  coming  fairly  within  the 
limits  suggested  in  this  work  have  been  published  in 
the  Sunday-School  Times,  and  some  of  them  reprinted 
separately ;  but  no  collection  of  such  Bible  lessons  has, 
it  is  believed,  been  given  until  now  to  the  public. 

It  is  not  supposed  that  schools  will  be  alike  pleased 
with  all  the  exercises  given  herewith ;  but  enough  can 
perhaps  be  found  by  each  school  to  complete  a  monthly 
series  for  a  year, — at  the  end  of  which  time  another 
such  collection  is  likely  to  follow  this. 


228  THE    children's    BIBLE    SERVICE. 

These  lessons  are  generally  quite  lorlg,  yet  not  too 
long  for  a  full  service  in  a  large  and  well  conducted 
school.  All  can,  however,  be  easily  shortened  by  the 
judicious  omission  of  proofs  or  points  of  the  respective 
themes,  and  some  can  be  divided  to  make  two  or  three 
lessons  for  small  schools,  or  for  partial  services. 

Illustrations  may  be  freely  used  in  connection  with 
any  of  these  lessons — in  some  of  them  to  decided  ad- 
vantage. It  has  not  been  deemed  necessary  to  insert 
these  in  their  places,  since  so  much  depends  in  this 
department  on  the  taste  of  the  leader  and  the  peculiar 
circumstances  of  the  school.  References  are,  however, 
repeatedly  made  to  such  volumes  as  will  supply  appro- 
priate material  of  this  kind. 

The  selections  for  Bible  readings  and  the  hymns 
given  with  each  lesson  are  only  to  indicate  the  proper 
character  of  such  portions  of  the  service  :  it  is  not  sup- 
posed that  they  will  in  all  cases  be  adopted.  The 
hymns  are  taken  from  various  books  in  more  or  less 
general  use,  to  show  that  in  almost  any  approved  col- 
lection fitting  selections  may  be  found. 

In  many  instances  a  portion  of  a  Bible  verse  is  used 
as  a  better  response  to  the  question  asked  than  the 
whole  verse  would  prove.  In  such  cases,  where  this 
book  is  not  available  to  the  scholar,  the  teacher  should 
be  careful  to  designate  in  advance  the  precise  portion 
to  be  committed  to  memory.  This  will  necessitate  a 
preliminar}^  examination  by  the  teacher  of  each  part 
assigned  to  his  or  her  class  for  recitation. 


PART     IV. 


SERMONS    AND    ADDRESSES 
TO   CHILDREN. 


CHILDREN'S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

BIBLE    RECITATIONS    NOT   A   SUBSTITUTE 
FOR  SERMONS. 

THE  systematized  recitations  from  Scripture  pre- 
sented in  the  preceding  portions  of  this  work  are 
by  no  means  intended  to  supersede  sermons  and  other 
formal  addresses  to  children.  Children  as  well  as  adults 
are  entitled  to  instruction  from  the  pulpit ;  and  to  per- 
form this  service  for  them  wisely,  "  decently  and  in 
order,"  requires  special  preparation  on  the  part  of  him 
who  is  their  minister.  This  department  of  effort  for  the 
children  should  not  be  overlooked  in  a  volume  which 
treats  of  public  religious  services  for  their  benefit. 

RARITY  OF  CHILDREN'S  PREACHERS. 
Until  recently,  few  sermons  to  children  have  been 
preached.  No  longer  ago  than  1855,  in  the  preface  to 
a  collection  of  sermons  to  youth  chiefly  from  English 
ministers,  published  by  Carlton  and  Porter,  under  the 
title  of  "  The  Child's  Preacher,"  the  editor  remarked, 
in  explanation  of  the  fact  that  but  little  of  the  material 
was  supplied  by  American  ministers,  "  That  we  have 


232       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

not  similar  contributions  from  other  American  preachers 
is  not  because  we  have  failed  to  solicit  them.  The 
truth  >s  that  American  ministers  have  as  yet  written 
but  few  sermons  to  children  j  and,  indeed,  have 
preached  quite  too  few." 

Even  at  the  present  time  it  is  not  uncommon  for  a 
pastor  to  refer  to  his  inability  to  preach  fittingly  to  chil- 
dren, as  though  it  were  after  all  a  matter  of  no  serious 
moment.  "  I  confess  I  cannot  preach  to  children,"  or 
"  I  have  no  tact  in  that  line,"  is  uttered  much  as  would 
be  the  statement  "  I  have  never  studied  Italian,"  or  "  I 
have  no  special  fondness  for  chemistry,  or  mechanics."- 
Says  a  recent  writer  on  this  theme,*  "  I  once  asked  a 
reverend  doctor  of   divinity,  who  was  present  in  my 

Sunday-school,  to  talk  to  the  children 'I  never 

talk  to  children ! '  That  was  my  answer,  with  an 
expressive  shake  of  the  head,  and  a  matter-of-surprise- 
and-of-course  sort  of  tone,  that  sent  me  away  humbled 
and  sorry  for  my  offending.  I  felt  as  though  I  ought 
to  apologize."  Is  not  such  a  treatment  of  this  matter 
more  common  than  excusable  ? 

THE  CLAIMS  OF  CHILDREN  ON  THE  MIN- 
ISTRY. 
Cannot  children  be  saved  ?  If  they  are  to  be  saved, 
is  it  in  exception  to  the  rule  that  it  hath  "  pleased  God 
by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  to  save  them  that  be- 
lieve ? "  t  "  How  shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom 
they  have  not  heard  ?  and  how  shall  they  hear  without 

*  Rev.  H.  C.  McCook,  in  the  S.  S.  Times.  t  I.  Cor.  i.  21. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.     233 

a  preacher  ? "  *  Parents  may  neglect  their  duty  towards 
their  children,  "yea,  they  may  forget:"  "a  woman 
[may]  forget  her  sucking  child,  that  she  should  not 
have  compassion  on  the  son  of  her  womb,"t  yet  would 
not  God  leave  such  home-neglected  little  ones  without 
hope,  nor  cause  that  their  teeth  should  be  set  on  edge 
because  of  the  sour  grapes  which  their  fathers  have 
eaten.  $  Hence  it  is  that  he  has  sent  ambassadors 
with  a  message  as  to  the  right,  to  "  every  creature  "  out 
of  the  way,  and  has  declared  that  "the  priest's  lips 
should  keep  knowledge,  and  they  should  seek  the  law 
at  his  mouth,  for  he  is  the  messenger  of  the  Lord  of 
hosts."  §  Are  not  all  who  are  old  enough  to  be  lost 
without  the  knowledge  of  Jesus,  entitled  to  hear  of  him 
at  the  lips  of  his  messenger  ? 

"  Shall  he  [the  minister,]  only  teach  the  adult  mind 
and  heart?"  says  an  eloquent  advocate  of  the  children's 
claims. II  "Shall  he  say, 'Ho!  ye  men  and  women 
who  can  understand  introduction,  proposition,  head  and 
points,  peroration  and  application,  come  ye  and  have 
the  truth  ? '  Shall  he  say  to  the  simple-minded  '  I  can- 
not come  down  to  you-! '  shall  he  say  to  the  little  chil- 
dren, *  I  have  no  crumbs  for  you  !  I  will  preach  only 
here,  [in  the  pulpit,]  and  in  order  to  preach  here  I  will 
gauge  the  average  power  of  mind  and  susceptibility  of 
heart  before  me,  and  preach  at  the  average  man  and 
woman  ? '  or  shall  he  care  for  all  his  flock  ?  There 
was    a   Good    Shepherd   once,    who   was   foretold   in 

*  Rom.  X.  14.    .  t  Isa.  xlix  15.  %  Ezek.  xviii.  2.  §  Mai.  ii.  7. 

II  Rev.  Dr.  J.  T.  Duryea,  in  the  New  York  S.  S.  Institute. 


234       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

prophecy,  who  was  to  feed  his  flock  like  a  shep- 
herd, and  gatlier  the  lambs  with  his  arm,  and  carry 
them  in  his  bosom,  and  gently  lead  those  that  were 
with  young." 

The  relative  numbers  of  children  in  every  com. 
munity  entitle  them  to  a  full  share  of  pastoral  labor, 
and  their  needs  are  as  great  as  their  numbers. 

"As  many  as  one-half  of  our  parishioners  are  under 
the  age  of  sixteen  years,  and  one-third,  according  to  my 
bills  for  forty-eight  years,  die  under  ten,"  is  the  testi- 
mony of  a  venerable  New  England  pastor  ;*  doubtless 
in  accordance  with  the  exhibit  of  most  parish  registers. 
Says  Dr.  Kirk,  in  pleading  the  cause  of  Christian  edu- 
cation :  "  Christian  families  have  but  a  small  portion 
of  the  youthful  population  within  their  circle.  We 
must  then  look  mainly  to  the  pastor  and  the  Sunday- 
school  teacher  for  this  important  result."  "  Nor,"  adds 
a  recent  clerical  writer,t  "can  he  whose  commission' 
requires  him  to  feed  the  lambs  as  well  as  the  sheep, 
afford  to  give  up  the  instruction  of  the  young  to  other 
hands."  By  every  consideration  of  duty,  the  pastors 
are  called  on  to  give  the  children  their  portion  in  due 
season. 

INDUCEMENTS  TO  PREACH  TO  CHILDREN. 

And  it  is  well  for  ministers  to  recognize  the  chil- 
dren's claims.  Work  for  them  is  a  good  pastoral  in- 
vestment. "  If  we  would  retain  the  young  under  our 
instructions  in  after  life,  we  must  interest  them  now," 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Cooley.  t  Rev.   E.  W.  Oilman,  in  New  Englander. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      235 

says  a  well-known  English  preacher  to  children.^ 
"  The  pulpit  will  not  be  honored  and  beloved  by  them 
in  future  days,  if  they  now  associate  it  only  with  thoughts 
of  weariness  and  impatience.  At  the  best  the  chances 
of  keeping  them  when  free  to  act  for  themselves,  will 
be  small  and  perilous."  Not  only  have  the  results  of 
labor  for  children  by  such  special  preachers  to  them 
as  E.  P.  Hammond,  E.  M.  Long,  and  others  of  their 
class,  indicated  the  value  of  efforts  in  that  direction, 
but  the  ordinary  children's  sermons  of  pastors  who 
preach  often  to  their  little  ones,  have  been  so  blessed  in 
soul  Truits  as  to  give  the  highest  encouragement  to  all 
who  are  engaged  in  this  work. 

Rev.  Dr.  Tyng,  reporting,  in  i860,  his  habit  of 
preaching  weekly  sermons  to  children,  for  then  eleven 
years,  testified :  "  I  have  considered  no  part  of  my 
work  more  valuable  and  important  than  this;  and 
certainly  no  portion  of  it  has  seemed  so  popular  and 
acceptable  to  others." f  And  he  added,  as  the  expres- 
sion of  his  conviction:  ".If  every  pastor  would  give 
one  sermon  on  every  Sunday  especially  addressed  to ' 
the  young,  and  designed  and  prepared  to  teach  them, 
he  would  find  himself  enlarging  his  direct  usefulness  in 
this  particular  work,  and  equally  advancing  the  value 
and  benefit  of  every  other  class  of  his  public  and 
private  labors  in  religious  instruction  also.  The  parents 
and  adults  of  his  flock  will  learn  as  much,  and  love  as 
much  the  teaching  for  themselves,  when  he  speaks  to 

*  Rev.  S.  G.  Green  in  the  Introduction  to  Addresses  to  Children, 
t  Forty  Years'  Experience  in  S.  S.,  p.  25. 


236      THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

the  youth  directly  and  simply,  as  when  he  addresses 
them  in  a  deeper  and  more  mature  discourse."* 

In  a  recent  note  to  the  author  of  this  volume,  this 
veteran  pastor  says :  "  I  still  abide  in  my  habit  of 
preaching,  in  series  of  sermons,  to  the  young  on  every 
Sunday  afternoon."  Surely,  his  success  as  a  minister 
of  Christ,  with  a  church  numbering  now  fourteen  hun- 
dred communicants,  and  Sunday-schools  comprising 
one  hundred  and  fifty  teachers  and  eighteen  hundred 
and  fifty  scholars;  the  similar  success  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Newton  in  Philadelphia,  and  like  results  in  the  parishes 
of  the  sons  of  both  divines,  (all  these  pastors  giving 
efforts  for  the  children  marked  prominence  in  pulpit 
labors,)  would  seem  to  justify  the  expressed  opinion  of 
Dr.  T.,  as  well  as  to  indicate  something  of  what  may 
be  expected  in  other  fields  when  ministers  generally 
follow  the  example  of  these  workers  for  Jesus,  and  of 
their  blessed  Master,  who  never  neglected  the  little 
ones.  Neither  of  these  ministers  seems  to  have 
lessened  his  hold  on  adults  by  his  labors  for  the 
young. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Boyd  testifies  similarly  of  his 
work  in  the  West :  "  During  the  several  years  of  my 
pastorate  in  Chicago  it  was  my  habit  to  address  the 
children  on  the  first  Sabbath  evening  of  each  month. 
The  attendance  was  always  large,  and  great  interest 
was  shown  not  only  by  the  little  ones,  but  also  by  their 
parents  and  teachers."  t     Says  Dr.  Newton:  "I  have 

*  Forty  Years'  Experience  in  S.  S.,  p.  210. 

t  Preface  to  Food  for  the  Lambs.     Church  and  Goodman,  C||jicago. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING   SERVICE.      23/ 

found  my  children's  sermons  encouragingly  rich  in 
their  results,  so  far  as  regards  the  spiritual  interests  of 
the  young  for  whom  they  were  prepared,  and  at  the 
same  time  of  frequently  acknowledged  profit  to  the 
adult  portion  of  the  congregation.  I  am  thoroughly 
satisfied  that  labor,  properly  bestowed,  in  this  depart- 
ment of  ministerial  work,  pays  better  than  any  other  in 
promoting  the  great  interests  of  our  Master's  cause."  ^ 
It  is  pleasanter,  as  well  as  more  profitable,  to  preach 
to  children  than  to  adults.  "I  would  rather  be  an 
apostle  to  the  children  than  an  'apostle  to  the  Gen- 
tiles,'" says  a  lover  of  this  work,  t  And  an  impulsive 
and  whole-souled  pastor  has  said  in  heartiness :  "  I  find 
but  little  pleasure,  comparatively,  in  preaching  to  old 
gospel-hardened  sinners.  I  preach  to  them,  to  be 
sure  j  preach  right  at  them ;  preach  Christ  to  them,  in 
love  and  earnestness.  Sabbath  after  Sabbath;  but,  oh! 
they  straighten  up  and  grin  and  take  it  so  easy,  I  have 
to  pray  the  Lord  to  give  me  patience  that  I  may  bear 
with  them  as  he  does.  But  when  I  talk  to  the  children 
about  Jesus,  they  hear  me;  and  as  I  look  down  into 
their  eyes  with  my  heart  full  of  love  for  them,  they  see 
me  and  feel  with  me.  There  is  a  beauty,  a  loveliness 
in  this  work  I  can  find  in  no  other."  $  Dr.  Tyng, 
speaking  of  the  pastor's  "  sweet  solace  of  the  children's 
relation  to  him,  a  comfort  to  his  wearied  spirit,"  says 

*  This  testimony,  and  all  that  follows  from  Dr.  Newton  on  the  subject  of 
sermons  to  children,  is  from  a  personal  letter  recently  received  by  the  author  of 
this  volume. 

t  Rev  C.  Greenwood  in  The  Child  and  the  Man,  p.  262. 

X  See  S,  S.  Times,  Nov.  1859. 


238     THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

truly:  ''  The  minister  deprived  of  this  loses  one  of  the 
most  precious  of  the  pleasures  of  his  work."* 

PREACHING  TO  CHILDREN  NOT  AN  EASY 
MATTER. 
"  That  children  are  a  difficult  part  of  the  flock  to 
feed,  the  experience  of  every  one  who  has  ever  tried  to 
do  his  duty  to  them  will  testify,"  says  Dr.  Todd,t 
while  evidencing  his  own  success  in  that  direction,  and 
he  adds  the  testimony  of  Cecil ;  "  Nothing  is  easier 
than  to  talk  to  children ;  but  to  talk  to  them  as  they 
ought  to  be  talked  to,  is  the  very  last  effort  of  ability. 
It  requires  great  genius  to  throw  the  mind  into  the 
habits  of  children's  minds.  I  aim  at  this,  but  I  find  it 
the  utmost  effort  of  ability.  No  sermon  ever  put  my 
mind  half  so  much  on  the  stretch."  "  It  is  no  easy 
thing  to  speak  effectively  to  children,"  says  a  foremost 
English  preacher,  %  to  the  little  ones ;  and  Dr.  Newton 
adds :  "  I  began  talking  to  children  when  I  was  sixteen 
years  old,  which  is  forty  years  ago,  and  have  cultivated 
the  habit  industriously  ever  since.  My  children's 
sermons  cost  me  more  time  and  labor  than  any  that 
I  preach."  Thus  agree  those  who  best  succeed  in  this 
department  of  ministerial  effort,  while  of  the  frequency 
of  failures,  many  can  speak  in  sympathy  with  a  vigop 
ous  writer  already  quoted :  §  "  How  few  there  are  of  our 
clergy  who  can  hold  the  attention  of  youth  on  any  sub- 
ject ;  and  above  all,  how  few  who  can  handle  a  religious 

*  Forty  Years'  Experience  in  S.  S.,  p.  211.     t  Preface  to  Lectures  to  Children. 
%  Rev.  S.  G.  Green,  §  Rev.  H.  C.  McCook. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.       239 

truth  SO  as  at  once  to  interest  and  instruct !  Let  those 
be  my  witnesses  who  have  vainly  sought  such  service  ; 
or  who  have  twisted  in  nervous  torment  under  mal- 
apropos harangues  which  pass  for  religious  addresses, 
but  which  might  with  equal  truth  be  labeled  hotch-potch 
of  irrelevant  or  irreverent  stories,  strained  illustration, 
stilted  declamation,  wild  exhortation,  dreary  platitudes, 
inflated  beatitudes,  incomprehensible  magnitudes,  and 
so  on  through  the  long,  sad  list  of  styles  that  run  the 
round  of  Sunday-school,  anniversary,  and  monthly-con- 
cert speeches,  only  here  and  there  relieved  by  an 
address  that  reaches  the  true  standard  of  sound  reli- 
gious truth  made  pleasant  and  plain  to  the  minds  of 
children  !  Have  I  stated  the  fact  too  strongly  ?  think 
a  moment  and  I  am  sure  you  will  answer,  Nay." 

'WHERE  THERE'S  A  WILL  THERE'S  AWAY.' 
But  when  it  is  understood  that  children  must  be 
preached  to, — ^when  the  command  "  Feed  my  lambs  " 
is  recognized  as  equally  binding  and  imperative  on  the 
under  shepherds,  with  that  other  direction  from  the 
same  divine  lips,  "  This  do  in  remembrance  of  me," 
no  man  will  venture  to  call  himself  fitted  for  the 
gospel  ministry,  until  he  has  learned  how  to  preach 
to  children.  He  will  not  announce  himself  as  a  candi- 
date for  the  pastorate,  without  full  preparation  for 
that  part  of  his  mission.  In  the  spirit  of  Douglass 
Jerrold's  advice  to  the' young  writer  in  haste  to  appear 
in  print,  he  will  "not  take  down  the  shutters  until 
there  is  something  in  the  window."     If  he  cannot  se- 


240       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

cure  needful  instruction  in  this  direction  in  an  existing 
seminary,  he  will  join  in  the  outcry  which  will  soon 
become  general,  against  such  ministerial  training 
schools  as  ignore  the  interests  of  avast  and  needy  mul- 
titude  to  be  preached  to.  He  will  not  only  believe 
that  "  this  theme  is  certainly  one  to  which  the  attention 
of  candidates  for  the  ministry  should  be  turned  during 
their  seminary  course;"*  but  he  will  be  inclined  to 
say  of  that  culture  for  the  ministry  which  leaves  chil- 
dren out  of  account  in  preaching,  as  a  distinguished 
theological  professor  f  has  recently  expressed  himself 
concerning  that  which  fails  to  make  one  a  preacher  to 
the  common  people,  "  I  would  abandon  the  whole  of  it. 
I  would  drop  it  as  I  would  a  viper." 

"  Jesus  would  not  have  imposed  upon  his  ministers 
';duty  which  he  had  not  given  them  the  ability  to  per- 
form," says  Rev.  Dr.  John  Cotton  Smith,  t  "  For  the 
pastor  it  is  only  necessary  that  he  have  the  interest  which 
our  Saviour  himself  had  in  the  young,  in  order  to  interest 

them  and  do  them  good It  will  be  impossible  for 

them  to  escape  the  attractions  of  a  warm  heart  earnestly 
enlisted  in  seeking  their  good."  The  human  mind  is 
capable  of  great  expansion  under  culture,  and  the  man 
who  can  preach  well  to  educated  adults  can  by  yet 
more  of  prayerful  study  attain  to  the  capacity  to  preach 
well  to  childrefT;  and  when  there  is  sufficient  pressure 
on  him,  from  his  instructed  conscience  and  the  demands 
of  the  church,  he  will  be  likely  to  strive  untiringly,  and 

*  Rev.  E.  W.  Gilman.  t  Rev.  Dr.  Austin  Phelps,  of  Andover. 

t  See  New  York  S.  S.  Institute  Report,  p.  112. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        24I 

with  success,  for  this  high  and  important  attainment. 
Indeed  there  are  those  who  think  that  it  is  easier  to 
learn  how  to  preacli  to  cliildren  than  to  adults.  Mr. 
Pardee  says : *  "If  you  would  only  take  one  quarter 
the  pains  to  learn  how  to  preach  to  children  that  you 
have  [taken]  to  learn  how  to  preach  to  adults,  you 
would  generally  succeed  to  so  great  an  extent  as  to 
astonish  yourself  and  all  your  friends." 

It  is  doubtless  true  that  "success  in  this  depart- 
ment of  public  speaking  is  to  be  attained  by  the  self- 
same means  that  win  success  in  others  ;"t  and  ^  may 
be  confidently  hoped  that  ere  long  it  will  be  as  excep- 
tional and  absurd  for  ministers  to  admit  their  inability 
to  preach  to  children,  as  for  them  to  confess  their 
incapacity  to  lead  in  public  prayer,  or  to  speak  in  such 
tones  as  may  be  heard  half-way  down  the  church  aisle. 
Already  it  is  very  clear  that  "  if  they  have  no  love  for 
children,  and  no  desire  especially  to  bless  them,  they 
are  manifestly  wanting  in  a  most  important  character- 
istic of  the  Saviour's  example,  and  an  indispensable 
qualification  for  a  useful  and  successful  ministry.  "$ 

PREPARATION  FOR  THE  WORK. 

"  The  one  great  requisite  for  effectively  addressing 
any   congregation,"    says    a   standard   writer   on   this 

theme, §    "is    sympathy  with   the    audience He 

must  think  not  in  his  own  accustomed  train,  but  in 
theirs In  striving  to  interest  the  children,  let  us 

*  S.  S.  Index,  p.  209.  t  Introduction  to  Green's  Addresses. 

X  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng  in  Forty  Years'  Experience  in  S.  S.  §  Rev.  S.  G.  Green. 

II 


242      THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

tmderstand  their  mi?ids.  If  any  minister  is  deficient  in 
tliis,  let  him  study  them ;  the  materials  are  ample.  Let 
him  listen  to  the  merry  voices  of  little  ones  at  their 
play :  let  him  talk  to  children,  as  often  and  as  famil- 
iarly as  they  will  allow  him :  let  him  even  not  be 
above  reading  the  books  of  those  who  have  shown 
exti'aordinary  aptness  to  understand  and  interest  the 
young.  By  these,  and  similar  means,  he  will  gain  an 
amount  of  knowledge,  a  degree  of  readiness,  aye, 
and  an  intenseness  of  affection,  too,  which  will  surprise 
himself 

Says  a  more  recent  and  equally  reliable  writer*  on 
this  point :  "  Dean  Swift,  so  the  story  goes,  was  wont  to 
read  his  sermons  to  his  cook  before  their  delivery,  to 
find  out  whether  all  the  words  in  them  could  be  easily 
understood  by  plain  people.  If  those  who  desire  to 
interest  and  instruct  children  would  remember  how 
they  talk  to  their  own  or  neighbor's  boys  and  girls 
around  the  family  hearth-stone,  they  would  have  suc- 
cess where  now  they  have  failure." 

Doubtless,  an  immediate  connection  with  the  Sunday- 
school  of  his  parish  will  aid  any  pastor  in  his  prepara- 
tion to  preach  to  children.  Dr.  Tyng  says  of  this 
pastoral  Sunday-school  labor:  "It  is  the  very  manu- 
facture which  the  raw  material  of  a  multitude  of  min- 
isters requires  to  transform  them  into  useful,  appro- 
priate and  practical  agents  in  the  Lord's  house.  It 
mortalizes  their  ministry,  by  bringing  them  down  to  a 
practical   shape,  and  compelling  the  cultivation  of  a 

*Rev.  E.  House  in  S.  S.  Hand-Book,  p.  130. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.       243 

common-sense  habit  of  teaching  and  address.  It  con- 
verts their  abstractions  into  reaUties,  and,  by  making 
them  the  '  teachers  of  babes, '  makes  them  the  more 
intelhgible  and  useful  teachers  for  all."* 

NO  STEREOTYPED  PLAN. 

The  question,  How  shall  children  be  preached  to? 
is  no  more  to  be  answered  dogmatically  than  is  the 
question,  What  style  of  preaching  is  uniformly  best  for 
adults  ?  The  command  of  God  to  his  ministers  to  feed 
his  lambs  is  positive ;  so  is  the  direction  to  employ  as 
their  food  "  the  sincere  milk  of  the  Word ; "  but  as  to 
how,  and  when,  and  in  what  portions,  that  food  is  to  be 
given  out,  there  are  ever  likely  to  be  varying  opinions. 
All  that  can  be  done"  in  such  a  volume  as  this,  is  to 
indicate  the  views  of  those  who  have  had  most  experi- 
ence in  the  practice  of  preaching  to  children,  or  who 
have  written  judiciously  on  the  subject,  and  to  name 
certain  essential  elements  of  success,  and  certain  com- 
mon errors,  or  causes  of  failure. 

FREQUENCY  OF  SERMONS. 
There  are  ministers  who,  like  Dr.  Tyng,  preach  to 
the  children  each  Lord's  Hay.  Their  number  is  in- 
creasing, and  it  would  be  larger  if  the  public  sentiment 
of  the  church  permitted.  Others,  like  Dr.  Newton, 
preach  thus  each  month.  This  includes,  probably,  the 
greater  portion  of  all  preachers  to  children.  Yet, 
again,  some  preach  bi-monthly  or  quarterly;  and  there 

*  Forty  Years'  Experience  in  S.  S.,  p.  199. 


244       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

are  even  those  who  preach  a  single  sermon  to  children 
in  the  year;  thus  admitting  the  claim  of  this  class  on 
their  ministerial  labors,  while  making  prominent  by- 
such  an  exceptional  service  their  usual  neglect  of  them. 
These  occasional  sermons  to  children  were  in  vogue 
even  in  the  earlier  days  of  New  England,  before  the 
young  had  as  large  a  share  as  now  in  the  labors  of  th^ 
church ;  but  then  one  such  sermon  was  ponderous  enough 
to  furnish  material  for  a  multitude  of  modern  services, 
For  example,  a  published  sermon  to  children,  preached 
by  Rev.  Samuel  Phillips,  of  Andover,  Mass.,  in  1739, 
occupies  nearly  one  hundred  close  printed  pages  of  an 
i8mo.  volume.  It  could  hardly  be  expected  or  desirec) 
that  -sermons  of  that  length  be  now-a-days  preached 
oftener  than  once  a  year.  As  an  illustration  of  the 
style  of  preaching  to  children  in  the  last  century,  an 
extract  from  this  sermon  may  prove  of  interest.  Its 
title  is,  "The  Children's  Hosannahs  Highly  Pleasing 
to  our  Great  Saviour."  The  text  is  Matt.  xxi.  15,  16. 
— "  And  the  children  crying  in  the  temple,  and  saying,  Hosanna 
to  the  Son  of  David ;  they  were  sore  displeased ;  .  .  .  And  Jesus 
saith  unto  them  :  Yea  ;  have  ye  never  read,  Out  of  the  mouth  of 
babes  and  sucklings  thou  hast  perfected  praise  ? " 

The  following  is  one  of  the  opening  paragraphs : 
In  this  Chapter,  we  have  an  Account  of  Christ's  riding  in 
Triumph  into  JeriisaleiJt. 

The  Beast  which  he  rode  upon,  is  said  to  be  an  Ass,  and  a  Colt 
the  Fole  of  an  Ass.  The  Words  do  not  intend  that  he  sat  on 
both;  sometimes  on  one,  and  then  on  the  other,  as  some  have 
imagin'd :    It  plainly  appears   by  the   other  Evangelists,  *  that 

*  Mark  ii,  and  Luke  19. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        245 

Christ  rode  on  the  Colt  only.  Matthew  names  two  for  one,  by  a 
Synecdoche  ;  or,  after  the  familiar  Use  of  the  Hebrew  Tongue,  he 
rehearseth  one  thing  twice;*  or,  both  are  mention'd,  because 
the  Dam  might  probably  follow  after  her  Coltf — And  this  was 
done,  that  the  Scripture  vciighX  ht  fulfilled ;  see  Zech.  ix.  9.  The 
Beast  which  Christ  im^Drov'd,  is  called  a  Colt ;  and  is  said  to  be 
one,  on  which  never  Man  sat.  Mark  xi.  2.  But  notwithstanding, 
he  was  fit  for  Man's  Use,  and,  without  Doubt,  the  Owner  intended 
him  for  speedy  Service  ;  for  we  read  that  the  Disciples  found 
him  tied:  And  it  was  no  unusual  Thing  for  young  Asses  to  be 
called  Colts,  even,  after  they  were  used  for  Riding,  as  may  be 

seen  in  Jicdg.  x.  4.  and  xii.  14. The  Ass  being  sent  for,  and 

by  the  Owner's  Leave,  bro't,  for  he  was  borrowed ;  the  Disciples 
put  on  hi77i  some  of  their  Garments,  and  then  they  set  Jesus 
thereon:  Which  plainly  teacheth  us,  to  part  with  our  very 
Cloathing  for  Chrisfs  Sake,  and  that  freely,  when  called  there- 
unto; and  when  we  have  an  Opportunity  to  serve  hijn,  and 
advance  his  Glory,  by  our  so  doing. 

CHILDREN  FED  WITH  CRUMBS  FROM  THE 
ADULTS'  TABLE. 

There  are  those,  again,  who,  preaching  no  special 
sermons  to  children,  have  a  "children's  corner"  in 
many  of  their  discourses  to  adults,  addressing  to  the 
little  ones  words  of  explanation  of  the  truth  taught 
their  parents ;  telling  them  in  simple  language  what  is 
the  substance  of  the  sermon,  (frequently  to  the  en- 
lightenment of  children  of  a  larger  growth),  making  a 
point  for  their  especial  benefit,  or  illustrating  one 
already  made,  by  an  incident  suited  to  their  compre- 
hension.    This  plan  is  warmly  approved  by  some  who 

*  Calvin, 

t  Non  utrique  insedit,  sed  piille  vehebatur,  sequente,  illius  matre. — Liv. 


246        THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

•are  as  yet  unwilling  to  give  an  entire  service  to  children. 
It  is  certainly  practicable  where  what  is  better  cannot 
yet  be  secured.  "  Almost  any  doctrinal,  exegetical  or 
practical  discourse  has  room  for  words  and  thoughts 
that  any  child  will  relish.  No  difficulty  in  feeding  the 
sheep  and  lambs  together : 

'  I  have  heard  my  father  say, 
And  well  my  father  knew, 
In  it  was  meat  for  full-grown  men, 
And  milk  for  children  too. '  "  * 

A  good  illustration  of  this  style  of  digression  for 
the  children's  benefit  is  found  in  a  sermon  of  Dr.  Dod- 
dridge on  the  Religious  Education  of  Children.  After 
addressing  the  parents  at  some  length,  he  turns  to  the 
little  ones,  saying : 

"II.  I  would  address  myself  to  children.  To  you,  the  dear 
lambs  of  the  flock,  whom  I  look  upon  as  no  contemptible  part 
of  my  charge ;  I  have  been  speaking  for  you  a  great  while,  and 
now  give  me  leave  to  speak  to  you  ;  and  pray  do  you  endeavor, 
for  a  few  minutes,  to  mind  every  word  that  I  say. 

"  You  see,  it  is  your  parents'  duty  to  bring  you  up  for  God. 
The  great  God  of  Heaven  and  earth  has  been  pleased  to  give 
his  express  command,  that  you  be  trained  up  in  the  way  in 
which  you  should  go,  even  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord.  It  is  wonderful  goodness  in  God  to  give  such  a  charge ; 
and  you  should  be  affected  with  it,  and  should  be  inquiring  what 
you  should  do  in  return. 

"Now  thefe  are  three  things,  which  I  would  ask  of  every  one 
of  you  in  return  for  this  gracious  notice  which  the  great  God  has 
taken  of  you,  children  ;  and  I  am  sure,  if  you  love  your  own 
souls,  you  will  not  deny  me  any  of  them.     Be  willing  to  learn  the 

*  House's  S.  S.  Hand-Book,  p.  103. 


THE    CI-IILDREN's    PREACHING    SERVICE.       24/ 

things  of  God  ;  pray  for  them  that  teach  you  ;  and  see  to  it,  you 
do  not  learn  them  in  vain.  Listen  diligently,  that  you  may 
understand  and  remember  each  of  these." 

[Then  follows  the  exposition  and  improvement  of 
each  of  the  three  points  named.] 

It  is  well  urged  as  an  argument  for  this  plan  that 
"The  time  of  the  service,  which  often  appears  so 
long  to  children,  will  appear  the  shorter  if  they  are 
noticed  and  interested  in  the  way  indicated ; "  and 
that  "  in  expectation  of  what  is  coming  for  them,  they 
will  pay  greater  attention  to  what  is  addressed  to 
adults." 

"  Papa,  are  you  going  to  say  anything  to-day  that  I 
can  understand .''  "  asked  a  little  girl  of  her  father — a 
Massachusetts  pastor — as  he  was  setting  out  for  church 
on  a  Sabbath  morning.  This  tender  appeal  touched 
the  loving  father's  heart,  and  he  could  not  answer  his 
daughter  nay;  he  could  not  say  to  his  child  that  she 
must  sit  in  penance  through  all  the  long  service  with 
never  a  word  designed  for  her  instruction  or  cheer. 
So,  as  he  preached,  he  said,  "  And  now,  children,  I 
will  say  something  to  you  about  this."  At  once  the 
face  of  every  child  in  that  .audience  brightened.  Sleepy 
little  ones  started  up;  tired  ones  took  fresh  heart. 
Looking  first  at  the  minister,  then  at  each  other,  again 
back  to  him,  they  were  all  eagerness  for  his  message, 
as  though  now  there  ^vas  something  else  for  them  than 
to  nod  and  yawn  and  ache  uncared  for ;  and  although 
the  pastor's  following  sentences  to  them  were  few  and 
simple,  doubtless  many  felt  as  did  the  child  who  had 


248        THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

pleaded  for  this  attention,  when,  on  her  return  at  noon, 
she  said  contentedly,  "  Papa,  I  understood  all  that  you 
said  this  morning."  Dear  children  !  who  wouldn't  do 
as  much  as  this  for  them  in  every  sermon  ? — they  are 
gratified  so  easily. 

In  the  instance  quoted,  no  adult  hstener  seemed  the 
loser  by  the  added  words  of  counsel  to  the  young. 
Indeed,  the  testimony  of  those  who  have  tried  or  noted 
this  plan  of  ministering  to  children,  tends  to  show  that 
its  results  as  a  means  of  grace  to  both  young  and  old 
are  every  way  encouraging.  The  truth  re-stated  for 
children  acquires  often  a  new  hold  on  parents,  and  the 
coldest  hearts  are  quite  as  likely  to  be  touched  by 
loving  appeals  to  the  little  ones  about  them  as  by  argu- 
ments addressed  directly  to  their  maturer  judgments. 

ELEMENTS    OF    SUCCESS. 

But  whether  children  are  preached  to  frequently  or 
seldom,  in  separate  services  or  at  the  ordinary  exercises 
of  worship,  the  same  elements  of  success  enter  into  all 
hopeful  efforts  to  instruct  them  by  public  address. 

In  preaching  to  children,  or  to  adults,  a  man  can 
hope  to  interest  others  only  in  that  in  which  he  is 
himself  interested.  "Out  of  the  Heart"  is  the  sug- 
gestive title  of  one  of  Hans  Christian  Andersen's 
collections  of  stories  to  children,  furnishing  as  it  does 
one  reason  why  that  writer's  tales  of  fiction  have 
reached  the  hearts  of  so  many  children  of  all  growths. 
Sanctified  earnestness  is  an  essential  quality  for  every 
useful  preacher  to  the  little  ones ;  not  "  that  a  preacher 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING   SERVICE.      249 

must  aim  at  earnestness^  but  that  he  must  aim  at  his 
vbjed,  which  is  to  do  some  spiritual  good  to  his  hearers, 
and  which  will  at  once  j?iake  him  earnest."* 

And  only  in  reliance  on  the  Holy  Ghost  can  any 
preach  in  proper  hope  of  a  blessing.  Successful 
preaching  is  ever,  as  was  Paul's,  "  in  demonstration  of 
the  Spirit  and  of  power,"!  "neither  he  that  planteth 
[being]  anything,  neither  he  that  watereth,  but  God  that 
giveth  the  increase."  $ 

But  while  in  this  condition  of  heart  towards  God  and 
towards  those  whom  he  addresses,  the  preacher  must 
have  a  care  to  use  advantageously  all  the  talents  where- 
with God  has  blessed  him ;  and  it  is  to  point  out  some 
of  the  truths  he  must  bear  in  mind  in  his  work  that  the 
following  suggestions  are  presented. 

HAVE   SOMETHING  TO   TEACH. 

Every  preacher  to  children  should  have  clearly  in 
his  own  mind  at  the  outset  a  well  defined  idea  which 
he  intends  that  his  hearers  shall  have  in  theirs  at  the 
close.  It  may  seem  superfluous  to  name  this  point; 
yet  it  is  true  that  children  are  often  addressed  in  re- 
ligious assemblies  by  those  who  have  never  a  thought 
beyond  interesting  them  or  exciting  their  emotions.  A 
formal  sermon  is  hardly  likely  to  be  preached  without 
some  thought  in  it ;  but  what  is  here  written  is  intended 
equally  for  all  who  publicly  address  children,  be  they 
ministers  or  laymen.  A  minister  may  freely  use  anec- 
dote and  illustration,  and  loving  words  and  tones,  to 

*  Rev.  Newman  Hall.  t  I.  Cor.  ii.  4.         .  %  I.  Cor.  iii.  7. 

II* 


250     THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

attract  the  children's  attention  and  excite  their  interest ; 
but  this  must  be  solely  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  som© 
valuable  instruction  to  those  whose  attention  and  interest 
are  thus  secured.  His  business  is  toy^^^the  lambs ;  not 
merely  to  gather  them  about  himself  with  open  mouths 
and  pleading  looks.  It  matters  less  to  the  hungry 
soul  whether  the  dinner  call  is  made  by  the  noisy  gong 
or  the  tinkling  bell,  than  that  the  food  supplied  is 
abundant  and  nourishing.  Let  then  every  man  who 
has  addressed  children  ask  himself,  as  he  leaves  the 
desk  or  platform,  What  new  or  important  thought  have 
I  communicated  to,  or  impressed  on,  these  children's 
minds?  How  would  they  be  likely  to  re-state  it,  if 
questioned  ?  If  he  cannot  define  his  idea,  they  surely 
cannot,  and  the  time  he  has  taken  has  been  worse  than 
lost. 

The  very  statement  of  the  subject  of  a  sermon  or 
address  to  children  may  be  a  means  of  attracting  atten- 
tion to  what  is  said,  and  of  fastening  in  the  mind  the 
truth  taught.  Thus  the  titles  of  many  of  the  published 
sermons  to  children,  taken  in  connection  with  the  texts 
preached  from,  are  suggestive  and  instructive.  For 
example : 

In  Todd's  "  Lectures  to  Children." 

GREAT   EVENTS   HANG   ON    LITTLE  THINGS. 

A  certain  man  drew  a  bow  at  a  venture.     I.  Kings  xxii.  24. 

FRAGMENTS   ALL  TO   BE   SAVED. 

Gather  tip  the  fragments  that  remain^  that  nothing  be  lost.  John 
vi.  12. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.     25 1 

In  McLean's  '■  Food  for  the  Lambs."* 

THE   LITTLE   FOXES,    AND    HOW   TO   CATCH   THEM. 

Take  us  the  foxes,  the  little  foxes  that  spoil  the  vines ;  for  our 
vines  have  tender  grapes.     Song  xi.  1$. 

THE   SNOW   SERMON. 

"  Wash  me,  and  I  shall  be  "whiter  than  snow.^'' 

In  Green's  "  Addresses  to  Children." 

THE   LITTLE   SLAVE   GIRL. 

Now  the  Syrians  had  gone  out  by  companies,  and  had  brotight 
away  captive  out  of  the  lajtd  of  Israel  a  little  maid ;  and  she  waited 
on  Naaman''s  wife.     II.  Kings  v.  2. 

A   SERMON    FOR    SPRING-TIME. 

Consider  the  lilies  of  the  field.     Matt.  vi.  28. 
In  Peabody's  Sermons  for  Children,  t 

USE  AND  ABUSE  OF  THE  TONGUE. 

Keep  thy  tongue  from  evil,  and  thy  lips  from  speaking  guile, 
Ps.  xxxiv.  13. 

FALSE   SHAME. 

I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.     Rom.  i.  16. 

HAVE  A  PLAN  OF  TEACHING. 

And  when  a  man  knows  what  he  wants  to  teach,  he 
should  have  a  plan  of  teaching  it.  Even  if  he  is  to 
make  but  a  five-minutes  talk  to  children,  he  should 
have  a  system  in  presenting  the  thought  he  seeks  to 
impart.  John  Bright  has  said  that  he  never  speaks 
without  knowing  beforehand  just  how  he  is  to  begin 
and  how  he  is  to  dose,  whatever  freedom  he  may  allow 

*By  Rev.  A.  McLean,  Buifalo,  N.  Y.     N.  Tibbals  &  Co..  N.  Y. 
t  Published  by  Am.  Uuit.  Assoc,  Boston. 


252      THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

himself  in  the  body  of  his  speech.  More  speakers 
would  approach  him  in  effectiveness  if  all  were  thus 
careful  in  their  plan  of  discourse.  Above  all,  a  sermon 
to  children  should  have  a  well  arranged  design,  a 
skeleton  to  give  strength  and  symmetry  to  the  entire 
body.  Says  Dr.  Newton,  "  In  preparing  a  sermon  for 
children,  I  regard  it  of  the  first  importance  to  make 
clear,  natural,  distinct  points.  My  plan  is  always  to 
begin  with  an  outline,  the  several  points  of  which  can 
be  stated  in  language  as  simple  as  possible.  If  each 
point  can  be  made  to  turn  on  a  single  word,  so  much 
the  better.  When  these  points  are  before  me,  I  range 
through  my  scrap-books,  and  all  the  material  at  hand, 
in  search  of  illustrations.  I  have  sometimes  spent  as 
much  as  two  days  in  seeking  illustrations  for  a  single 
sermon.  When  this  is  done,  I  go  carefully  over  what 
has  thus  been  gleaned  and  cull  out  such  illustrations 
as  seem  best  adapted  to  the  several  points  before 
me." 

Any  of  Dr.  Newton's  published  sermons  will  illus- 
trate his  plan  of  arrangement.     For  instance  : 

"  THE   BEST  WORKERS.* 

My  Fathej'  worketh  hitherto,  and  I  work.     John  v.  1 7. 

The  Heavenly  Workers  are  the  Best  Workers,  because  they 
v^ox\i^o  extensively  ;  so  quietly ;  so  powerfully  ;  so  carefully  ;  and 
so  wisely. 

We  may  learn  two  things  from  this  subject.  In  the  first  place 
it  teaches  us  that  Work  is  an  honorable  thing.  .  .  .  We  may 
also  learn  from  the  subject  /low  we  should  try  to  do  our  work.'''' 

*  The  Best  Things,  p.  63. 


THE    children's    PREACHING   SERVICE.      253 

"the  tenth  commandment.* 

Thoi4.  skalt  not  covet.  .  .  .  Ex.  xx.   1 7. 

We  have  considered  four,  reasons  why  we  should  not  covet. 
Because  it  is  unsatisfying ;  because  it  is  disgraceful ;  because  it  is 
injurious ;  and  because  it  is  sinful.^'' 

The  sermons  of  Rev.  John  Edmond,  of  London, 
pubhshedjt  in  two  series,  under  the  title  of  "The 
Children's  Church  at  Home/'  are  admirable  models  in 
design,  and  are  well  worth  the  study  of  those  who 
would  preach  wisely  to  children.  The  outlines  of  a 
few  of  them  are  subjoined. 

"shining  lamps. 

And  said  unto  me,  What  seest  thou  ?  And  I  said,  I  have  looked, 
and  behold  a  candlestick  all  of  gold,  with  a  bowl  upon  the  top  of  it, 
and  his  seven  la^nps  thereon,  and  seven  pipes  to  the  seven  lamps, 
which  are  upon  the  top  thereof : 

And  two  olive  trees  by  it,  one  upon  the  right  side  of  the  bozvl,  and 
the  other  upon  the  left  side  thereof.     Zech.  iv.  2,  3. 

Every  one  of  us  should  have  a  lamp,  or  rather  be  a  lamp,  to 
shine  out  into  the  darkness  of  the  world 

Now  there  are  four  things  necessary  to  a  lamp's  giving  light 
properly.     It  must  be — 
I.  Lighted. 
11.  Set. 

III.  Fed. 

IV.  Trimmed." 

"the  farewell  promise. 
He  which  testifieth  these  things  saith.  Surely  I  come   quickly. 
Amen.     Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus.     Rev.  xxii.  20. 

"  Take  the  different  parts  of  this  verse  as  they  stand,  and 
you  have  three  things  for  consideration  : 

I.  A  description  of  Jesus :  '  He  which  testifieth  these  things.' 

*  The  King's  Highway,  p.  338.  t  By  T.  Nelson  &  Sons. 


254     THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

II.  A  saying  of  Jesus :  *  Surely  I  come  quickly,  Amen.' 
III.  A  prayer  to  Jesus :  *  Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus.'  " 

Similar  skill  in  sermon  outlines  is  shown  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  W.  P.  Breed,  of  Philadelphia,  in  his  collections 
of  discourses  to  children  known  as  "  Under  the  Oak," 
and  "Grapes  from  the  Great  Vine."*  For  instance, 
he  has  one  called 

"THE    FIVE    WONDERS. 

Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock :  if  any  man  hear  my  voice, 
and  ope7t  the  door,  I  will  come  in  to  hi}?i,  a7id  will  sup  with  him, 
ajtd  he  with  me.     Rev.  iii.  20. 

At  least  five  several  wonders  in  one  short  text  of  Scripture  ! 

The  First  wonder  is  found  in — The  Person  mentioned  in  that 
little  word  '  i: 

The  Second  wonder  is — His  o^iect  in  knocking  there. 

The  Third  wonder  is —  That  Jfesus  is  permitted  to  stand,  without 
being  adtnitted. 

The  Fourth  of  the  five  wonders  is —  The  patiejice  of  Jestis  in 
standing  so  long  at  the  sinner'' s  heart. 

The  Fifth  and  last  of  these  wonders  is — Christ  supping  with 
the  sinner.^'' 

Another  choice  collection  of  sermons  to  children  is 
from  the  pen  of  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Collier,  Kingston, 
N.  Y.,  under  the  title  of  "  Little  Crowns  and  How  to 
Win  them." t 

The  plan  of  the  first  of  these  is  as  follows : 

"Josiah  was  eight  years  old  when  he  began  to  reign.  IL 
Chron.  xxiv.  i. 

"  What  boy  has  not  sometimes  wished  that  he  might  become  a 
king,  and  live  in  a  splendid  palace,  all  shining  with  gold  and 

*  Published  by  Presb.  Board  of  Publication. 
I.  liy  R.  Carter  &  Bros.,  New  York. 


THE    children's    PREACHING   SERVICE.      255 

gems  ?  .    .  .  Now   I  am  going  to  tell  you   .    .   .  how  you  may 
all  wear  crowns,  if  you  will  only  take  the  pains  to  win  them.  .  .  . 
I.  One  of  these  crowns  is  Self -Government.  .  .  . 
II.  Another  crown  is  Wisdom.  .  .  . 

III.  Another  crown  is  Obedience  to  Cod.  .  .  . 

IV.  Another  crown,  beautiful  and  bright  as  if  it  had  come 
straight  down  from  heaven,  is  that  of  Love.  .  .  . 

V,  I  must  tell  you  of  one  more  crown :  and  it  is  as  bright  as 
all  the  others  melted  into  one  can  make  it — '  T/ie  crown  of  glory 
thatfadeth  not  away.'' " 

USE   SIMPLE   LANGUAGE. 

Equally  important  with  the  having  something  to 
teach,  and  a  plan  in  presenting  it,  is  the  use  of  simple 
language,  in  addresses  to  children. 

"  Be  plain  in  speech.  Give  a  clear  view  of  what  you 
teach.  Let  your  teaching  be  understood,"  says  Df. 
Robert  Steel  in  his  admirable  work  on  Sunday-school 
teaching ;  *  and  he  quotes  Dr.  South  as  saying :  "  He 
is  the  powerfulest  preacher,  and  the  best  orator  who  can 
make  himself  best  understood."  But  Mr.  Green  forcibly 
suggests  that  it  is  not  by  using  words  of  one  syllable  that 
language  is  made  simple.     "  We  never  talk  to  children 

in  monosyllables Let  us  be  plain  and  Saxon  as 

possible  in  our  speech;  but  let  us  not  imagine  that  we 
have  simplified  our  language  when  we  have  only  reduced 
the  size  of  our  words.  The  measure  of  simplicity  is  not 
linear  measure."  f  And  Dr.  Waterbury  adds :  t  "  Chil- 
dren comprehend  more  readily  than  you  imagine.  You 
need  not  insult  their  understanding  by  descending  to  a 

*The  Christian  Teacher  in  Sunday-schools,  p.  216.     T,  Nelson  &  Sons. 
t  Preface  to  Addresses  to  Children.  %  Children  Led  to  the  Saviour. 


256       THE    children's    PREACHING   SERVICE. 

Style  of  babyish  simplicity.  How  do  you  make  your 
own  children  of  eight,  ten  and  twelve  years  understand 
you?  Does  it  require  a  studied  simplicity?  By  no 
means.  You  talk  to  them  in  plain  Saxon  language,  just 
such  as  you  use  in  your  intercourse  with  ordinary  grown 
people.  Do  they  not  understand  you?  Why  should 
you  adopt  any  different  style  m  preaching  to  them?" 

A  strong  thought  loses  none  of  its  force  by  being 
expressed  in  familiar  speech.  A  feeble  idea  gains  no 
power  by  being  rendered  in  high-sounding  phrase. 
Yet  it  requires  more  of  ability  to  grasp  a  great  truth 
and  then  to  give  it  simple  expression,  than  to  use 
swelling  words  without  full  appreciation  of  their  mean- 
ing; and  care  is  always  necessary,  in  talking  to  chil- 
dren, not  to  emjDloy  words  above  their  possible  com- 
prehension. In  evidence  of  the  truth  that  simplicity 
in  style  and  language  is  compatible  with  intellectual 
breadth  and  culture,  it  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to 
some  of  the  published  sermons  or  Vv^ritings  for  children 
from  men  of  strong  thought  and  high  attainment  who 
have  had  marked  success  in  this  direction. 

Rev.  W.  S.  Plumer,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  has  written  mass- 
ive volumes  of  theologic  lore,  and  also  an  attractive 
collection  of  "Short  Sermons  to  Little  Children."* 
It  would  be  difiicult  to  find  lessons  to  the  young  pre- 
sented in  simpler  terms  than  in  some  portions  of  this 
latter  volume.     For  instance : 

"THERE   IS   A   GOD. 

He  that  cometh  to  God  must  believe  that  he  is.     Heb.  xi.  6.  . 
^  Published  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union. 

t 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        25/ 

I  believe  there  is  a  God  ;  but  I  do  not  believe  so  because  I  ever 
saw  him.  '  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time.'  God  says,  '  No 
man  shall  see  me  and  live.'  Eut  we  may  all  believe  in  some 
things  which  we  never  saw.  -  We  never  saw  the  wind,  and  yet 

we  know  it  blows Therefore  it  is  as  foolish  as  it  is  wicked 

to  doubt  whether  there  be  a  God,  simply  because  we  never  saw 
him.     But  I  will  tell  you  why  I  believe  there  is  a  God. 

Not  long  ago,  I  went  with  four  little  children  into  a  watch- 
maker's shop,  and  there  a  man  brought  out  a  little  box,  and  put 
a  key  into  a  small  hole  in  the  side  of  it,  and  wound  it  up.  He 
then  set  down  the  box,  and  touched  a  spring,  and  the  top  flew 
open,  and  a  little  bird,  not  as  large  as  a  humming-bird,  hopped 
out,  and  flapped  its  wings,  and  sang,  or  seemed  to  sing,  a  pretty 

tune It  was  very  small  and  very  beautiful.     The  little  boys 

and  girls  that  were  with  me  were  much  pleased Mary  said, 

*  I  wish  I  had  it.  I  would  give  a  dollar  for  it.'  She  was  told  the 
price  of  it  was  six  hundred  dollars.  Jane  asked,  '  Who  made  it  ? ' 
Mr.  Smith,  the  watchmaker,  told  her  it  was  made  by  a  man  in 
Geneva,  in  Switzerland.     We  all  left  the  store  in  good  spirits 

and  went  out  to  a  grove.     Here  were  many  living  birds 

Every  one  of  them  could  hop  from  branch  to  branch,  and  from 
tree  to  tree.     They  could  all  make  some  noise.     The  notes  of 

most  of  them  were  very  sweet We  all  walked  through  the 

grove,  and  found  some  pretty  flowers.     We  then  came  to  a  cool 

spring,  and  took  a  drink  of  water I  thought  it  was  a  good 

time  to  talk.  So  I  said,  '  If  a  man  in  Geneva  made  the  bird  in 
the  box,  how  came  all  the  living  birds  here  ?  Did  they  make 
themselves  ? '  Charles  said,  '  How  could  they  make  themselves  ? 
I  saw  in  my  book  the  other  day  that  nothing  can  make  nothing.' 
'  Well,'  said  I,  *  did  the  man  in  Geneva  make  them  ? '  Jane 
answered,  '  No  !  he  never  saw  them.  He  could  not  make  such 
birds  as  these '  I  then  said,  '  Did  they  just  grow  with- 
out any  one  making  them  ? '  Charles  replied  *  How  could 
they  ? '     Mary  said,  '  I  xan  tell  you  how  they  came  here,  God 

made  them I  know  there  is  a  God,  because  there  are 

so  many  pretty  birds.'     I  added,  '  You  are  all  right,  my  children. 


258       THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

There  is  a  God He  has  made  everything  good,  and  we  ought  to 

believe  that  he  is.    His  works  are  all  around  us.     They  are  many, 
and  great,  and  wise.     Let  us  never  doubt  that  there  is  a  God.' 

REMARKS.  ■ 

If  there  be  a  God,  we  ought  to  believe  in  him,  and  think  of 
him.  We  ought  to  love  him,  and  fear  him,  and  obey  him,  and 
not  sin  against  him.  We  ought  also  to  trust  in  him.  Little  birds 
do  his  will,  and  praise  him  in  their  way.  We  ought  to  praise 
him  in  our  pretty  hymns,  and  in  our  hearts.  And  we  ought  to 
pray  to  him,  as  he  has  taught  us  : 

*  Our  Father,'  etc." 

FEW   ESSENTIALS   TO    HOPEFUL   SPEECH. 

The  three  points  thus  named  will  doubtless  be  con- 
ceded as  indispensable  to  every  proper  address  to 
children.  Without  something  to  say,  a  plan  of  saying 
it,  and  saying  it  simply,  no  man  can  hope  to  address 
children  profitably.  With  these  qualifications,  he  may 
always  hope  to  be  heard  and  understood,  and  to  edify 
his  hearers,  for  children  love  to  be  talked  to,  and  their 
minds  are  ever  open  to  bright  and  fresh  ideas.  Of 
course  it  must  not  be  forgotten,  that  to  really  benefit 
children  by  any  address,  the  speaker  must  employ 
God's  truth,  in  reliance  on  God's  Spirit ;  but  the  sug- 
gestions herein  made  are  rather  as  to  the  manner  of 
preaching,  than  as  to  its  spirit  and  substance. 

In  addition  to  these  essential  elements,  there  are 
others  scarcely  less  important  in  successful  preaching 
to  the  little  ones,  foremost  among  which  is 

QUESTIONING    ON   THE    TRUTH    TAUGHT, 

To  state  a  truth  to  a  child  does  not  teach  it  to  him. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      259 

He  may  or  may  not  receive  and  understand  it.  But  if, 
on  being  questioned  concerning  it,  he  returns  correct 
answers,  he  not  only  indicates  his  apprehension  of  its 
meaning,  but,  by  the  very  act  of  re- stating  its  substance, 
acquires  to  it  a  new  right  of  mental  ownership.  It 
is  doubtless  true  that- a  man  hardly  makes  any  thought 
his  own  until  he  has  in  some  way  given  it  expression; 
hence  it  is  doing  much  for  a  child  to  induce  him  to 
shape  or  repeat  any  statement  made  to  him  in  public 
address,  as  the  text  or  main  divisions  of  a  sermon,  or 
the  points  of  an  address,  or  to  draw  out  from  him  by 
skilful  questioning  his  own  ideas  on  the  theme  con- 
sidered, that  they  may  be  approved  or  corrected. 

In  the  early  Church,  the  young  were  always  taught 
catechetically, — indeed  the  younger  classes  of  catechu- 
mens were  not  even  permitted  to  attend  on  pulpit 
preaching;  and  the  superiority  of  that  mode,  for  pur- 
poses of  teachings  is  admitted  almost  universally  by 
educators.  "More  knowledge,"  says  Dr.  Owen,  "is 
ordinarily  diffused,  especially  among  the  young  and 
ignorant,  by  one  hour's  catechetical  exercise  than  by 
many  hours'  continued  discourse."  Says  Bridges,* 
"  The  catechetical  mode  is  decidedly  the  most  effective 
to  maintain  attention,  elicit  intelligence,  convey  infor- 
mation, and,  most  of  all,  apply  the  instructions  to  the 
heart;"  and  George  Herbert  adds:t  "This  practice 
exceeds  even  sermons  in  teaching."  "  It  is  more  fitted 
to  communicate  truth  to  the  youthful  mind,"  says  Dr. 

*  Cliristian  Ministry,  p.  404. 
I  Country  Parson,  Chap.  xxi. 


260       TPIE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

Steel,  in  quoting  the  foregoing  authorities.  "The 
knowledge  is  riveted  by  catechising."*  Do  all  preach- 
ers bear  this  truth  in  mind  in  their  eiTorts  to  teach  the 
young  ?  Is  it  not  true,  as  Dr.  Duryea  suggests,  f  that 
"  The  pulpit  has  turned  away  utterly  from  that  which 
philosophy  has  used  with  such  tremendous  power  from 
the  beginning  until  now.?"  and  that  "The  pulpit  must 
sit  at  her  feet  and  learn  the  simple  lesson.?"  It  is  true 
that  the  didactic  form  of  address  is  most  effective  as  a 
means  of  inspiration,  and  best  suited  to  hortatory  and 
illustrative  instruction ;  hence,  sermons  cannot — should 
not — be  exclusively,  or  even  chiefly,  catechetical;  but 
the  two  modes  can  be  employed  together,  to  the  in- 
crease of  the  value  of  each.  As  Dr.  Steel  says  of  the 
use  of  exhortation  and  illustration  in  teaching:  "We 
do  not  despise,  or  wish  to  dispense  with,  these  means. 
We  are  only  anxious  to  keep  them  in  their  place ;  and 
the  strict  attention  to,  and  exercise  of  the  catechetical, 
afford  ample  room  for  their  introduction." 

Some  of  tiie  most  successful  preachers  to  children 
make  ample  use  of  the  power  of  questioning.  Says 
Rev.  Dr.  Todd :  t  "  I  have  tried  to  talk  in  such  a  man- 
ner, that,  on  pausing  several  times,  and  asking  my 
little  bright  audience  what  point  had  just  been  stated 
and  illustrated,  the  child  who  could  only  lisp  should 
usually  be  able  to  throw  his  voice  in  with  the  rest  in 
answering."  Whoever  has  heard  Rev.  Dr.  Newton, 
knows  that  much  of  his  effectiveness  as  a  preacher  to 

*  The  Christian  Teacher  in  Sunday-schools,  p.  128. 

t  New  York  S.  S.  Institute,  p.  137.  +  Preface  to  Lectlires  to  Children. 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.        261 

children  comes  of  his  skill  and  tact  as  a  questioner. 
He  asks  the  children  to  repeat  aloud  the  text  he 
announces;  he  calls  on  them  to  re-state  each  division 
of  his  discourse ;  he  questions  them  as  to  the  meaning 
of  words  used  by  him ;  and  before  he  states  a  new 
head  he  asks  them  to  remind  him  of  those  which  pre- 
ceded it.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon,  he  has  his  young 
hearers  give,  in  response  to  his  well-timed  questions, 
the  entire  synopsis  of  his  discourse,  so  that  it  is  then 
as  much  theirs  as  it  was  his.  They  and  he  have 
preached  it  together.  They  are  likely  never  to  forget 
its  lessons  or  substance.  Ralph  Wells,  as  a  lay- 
preacher  to  children,  questions  yet  more  freely,  and 
with  like  success.  The  same  may  be  said  of  many 
others. 

Dr.  Wilberforce,  Lord  Bishop  of  Oxford,  has  pub- 
lished some  of  his  Sunday  stories  to  his  own  children,  * 
and  at  the  close  of  a  number  of  these  he  has  given 
questions  and  answers  as  indicative  of  what  is  desirable 
in  impressing  such  truths  on  the  young.  His  children 
were  from  five  to  nine  years  old  when  these  stories 
were  told  to  them,  and  some  of  the  answers  "  are  the 
very  answers  he  received  from  his  children." 

For  example,  he  tells  an  allegory,  under  the  title  of 
"The  Tent  on  the  Plain."  A  king  has  his  head- 
quarters in  a  shining  tent.  Soldiers  are  coming  to 
enlist  in  his  army,  and  he  receives  even  those  who 
have  been  in  rebellion  against  him,  giving  to  each  a 
ring,  containing  a  stone  that  sparkles  as  long  as  the 

*  The  Children  and  the  Lion.     Carlton  &  Porter. 


262      THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

\vearer  is  trustful  of  him,  but  grows  dull  when  he 
doubts.  Even  the  youngest  are  received  by  this  king, 
and  may  fight  for  him.  A  powerful  glass  given  to 
the  dreamer  who  tells  the  allegory,  shows  the  air  about 
the  young  soldiers  of  the  king  to  be  "  full  of  ugly  and 
venomous  creatures  who  were  the  king's  enemies,"  and 
they  are  continually  provoking  trouble  among  the  little 
ones ;  but  if  the  king's  name  is  mentioned,  or  trust  in 
him  expressed,  the  vile  creatures  flee  away.  Again,  in 
a  child's  sick  room  the  powerful  glass  shows  "  beautiful 
forms  of  heavenly  creatures  which  the  king  had  sent  to 
watch  over  him ;"  and  as  the  boy  dies,  a  golden  door  is 
shown  to  open  above  him,  and  as  he  passes  in  happy 
music  sounds  out,  and  a  crown  is  offered  him.  The 
questions  and  answers  at  the  close  of  this  allegory  are 
as  follows: 

*'  Q.     Who  is  the  King  who  takes  rebels  as  soldiers? 

A.     The  Lord  our  God  ;  who  says,  *  Am  not  I  a  great  King .?' 

Q.     Who  are  these  rebels  ? 

A.  All  mankind  :  for  it  is  written,  '  All  have  sinned  and  come 
short  of  the  glory  of  God.'  Rom.  iii.  23.  And  again:  'We 
were  b)'  nature  the  children  of  wrath,  even  as  others.'    Eph.  ii.  3. 

Q.     What  is  the  ring  of  adoption  ? 

A.     Our  being  taken  to  be  God's  own  children. 

Q.     What  is  the  sparkling  stone  } 

A.  The  faith  by  which  we  must  ourselves  believe  in  Christ, 
if  we  would  be  saved. 

Q.     What  is  the  meaning  of  the  stone  becoming  dull  ? 

A.     A  child  of  God  growing  unfaithful,  or  forgetful  of  him. 

Q.     How  soon  may  we  begin  to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith  ? 

A.     As  soon  as  we  know  anything. 

Q.     What  are  the  dreadful  forms  which  the  glass  showed  ? 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.      263 

A.     Temptations  to  sin. 

Q.     Then  are  little  children  tempted  to  sin  ? 

A.     Yes  ;  that  they  are,  very  often. 

Q.     And  how  must  they  resist  ? 

A.  By  remembering  whose  children  they  are ;  and  that  God 
the  Father  sees  them ;  and  that  he  for  Christ's  sake  will  help 
them  if  they  pray,  and  so  be  asking  alwa}'-s  for  his  help. 

Q.     What  are  the  good  forms  the  glass  showed  ? 

A.     The  helps  God  will  give  to  those  who  pray  to  him. 

Q.     What  are  we  to  learn  from  the  dying  boy  ? 

A.  That  God  will  take  holy  children  to  dwell  with  him  for- 
ever in  his  heavenly  glory."  v 

THE  USE  OF  ILLUSTRATION. 

Next  in  prominence,  certainly  comes  the  use  of  illus- 
tration in  preaching  to  children.  Indeed  it  is  usually 
given  a  higher  place,  sometimes  the  first. 

"  The  popularity  of  great  preachers  is  largely  attrib- 
utable to  their  powers  of  illustration,"  says  Groser.* 
"  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  chiefly  the  absence  of  illus- 
tration which  renders  a  style  heavy  and  uninteresting, 
and  imparts  that  peculiar  and  well  known  quality  de- 
nominated *prosiness.' "  Dr.  Dowling  adds:t  "The 
power  of  illustration,  while  it  is  an  eminently  useful 
qualification  to  the  instructor  of  men,  is  absolutely 
indispensable  to  the  successful  instructor  of  youth." 
Says  Freeman,t  "  The  importance  of  illustration  in  the 
instruction  of  children  can  hardly  be  overestimated." 
"  Mere  didactic  abstract  instruction  will  not  meet  their 

*  Illustrative  Teaching,  p.  7.     By.  W.  H.  Groser. 

t  The  Power  of  Illustration,  p.  19.     Rev.  J.  Dowling,  D.D. 

JThe  Use  of  Illustration,  in  S.  S.  Teaching,  p.  5.     Rev.  Jas.  M.  Freeman. 


264       THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

wants,"  says  Dr.  Tyng.  *  "  This  is  only  to  be  done 
by  a  system  of  illustration  from  every  variety  of  source 
accessible  to  the  teacher,  and  adapted  to  the  minds  of 
children."  Cecil  declares  of  the  children's  preacher, 
that  "  He  must  have  extensive  knowledge,  to  call  in 
illustration  from  the  four  corners  of  the  earth;  for 
he  will  make  but  little  progress  but  by  illustration." 
"  Illustrations  of  divine  truths  are/'  says  Pardee,  t  "  in 
fact  indispensable." 

The  Great  Teacher  was  an  example  in  this  regard. 
"  He  was  illustrative  in  his  teaching,  and  knew  that 
great  secret  of  popular  oratory,  the  art  of  using  familiar 
objects  as  figures  of  spiritual  truth.  He  was  always 
telling  what  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  like,"1:  and 
"  without  a  parable  spake  he  not "  unto  his  followers. 
This  was  because  "  he  knew  what  was  in  man,"  his 
tastes  and  his  needs ;  and  man  is  now  much  as  then. 
"  Childhood  loves  parables.  The  word  must  be  made 
flesh  to  dwell  among  them.  A  good  illustration  will 
fasten  a  truth,  with  God's  blessing  forever  upon  the 
memory  and  heart;"  §  or  as  Brace  puts  it,  concerning 
his  Short  Sermons  to  News  Boys.  "The  street-boy, 
[and  other  boys  are  not  unlike  him  in  this,]  cannot 
listen  to  abstract  truth  :  he  must  have  concrete.  Facts 
and  realities  are  what  he  needs,  and  especially  the 
teaching  of  parables,  or  dramatic  and  illustrative  modes 
of  teaching."     With  all  classes  and  ages,  the  truth  is 

*  Forty  Years'  Experience  in  S.  S.,  p.  237. 

t  S.  S.  Index,  p.  87. 

t  Christian  Teacher  in  S.  S-,  p.  217. 

§  Stones  from  Life.     Rev.  B.  K.  Pcirce,  D.  D.     Henry  Hoyt. 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.       265 

best  impressed  on  the  memory  through  illustrative  inci- 
dents. "  The  story,  like  a  float,  keeps  it  from  sinking ; 
like  a  nail,  fastens  it  on  the  mind;  like  the  feathers  of 
an  arrow,  makes  it  strike ,  and  like  the  barb,  makes  it 
stick."  * 

Most  of  the  effective  preachers  to  children  use  il- 
lustrations freely  in  their  sermons.  So  do  the  fore- 
most lay-speakers  to  the  little  ones  in  their  addresses. 
The  best  writers  on  the  children's  cause  press  the 
advantages  of  this  mode  of  enforcing  truth  on  the 
young  mind ;  and  it  is  given  large  prominence  in 
nearly  all  of  the  Sunday-school  teachers'  institutes  and 
conventions  of  the  day.  Having  divine  sanction,  in 
the  example  of  the  Model  Teacher,  it  may  not  be 
lightly  passed  over  as  unworthy  of  full  consideration. 
It  demands  the  earnest  attention  of  him  who  would 
religiously  instruct  the  young,  and  especially  should 
the  children's  preacher  faithfully  consider  the  entire 
subject  of  Illustration,  and  prepare  himself  for  his 
work  by  gathering  material  in  this  line.  Freeman 
recommends  t  to  the  Sunday-school  teacher  (and  the 
advice  is  equally  good  to  the  preacher)  the  keeping  of 
"  a  memorandum  book  in  which  to  jot  down  from  time 
to  time  such  illustrations  of  various  kinds  as  may  occur 
to  the  mind  either  in  reading,  or  conversation,  or  hear- 
ing a  pubHc  speaker,  or  meditation;"  and  as  a  good 
way  of  rendering  these  available,  to  "mark  on  the 
margin  of  the  Bible,  opposite  the  text  illustrated,  the 

*  Dr.  Guthrie  on  The  Parables, 
t  Use  of  Illustrations,  p.  27. 
12 


266       THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

number  of  the  page  of  the  blank  book  on  which  the 
illustration  is  found."  He  adds,  that  "a  scrap-book 
will  also  be  o  very  great  assistance.  In  this  may  be 
pasted  such  scraps  illustrative  of  Bible  truth  as  may 
be  gathered  from  the  papers.  Anecdotes,  narratives, 
allusions  to  biblical  customs  or  history,  may  in  this  way 
be  preserved  for  future  use.  The  page  of  the  scrap- 
book  may  be  noted  in  the  margin  of  the  Bible,  oppo- 
site the  passage  illustrated,  as  in  the  case  of  the  memo- 
randum book."  An  index  to  the  memorandum  or  scrap- 
book  will  also  prove  of  value  for  purposes  of  reference. 
But  there  seems  less  danger  just  now  that  illustra- 
tions will  be  undervalued,  than  that  they  will  be  made 
too  much  of  by  speakers  to  children.  Sure  it  is  that 
"  the  children  too  often  are  glutted  with  anecdotes  ; "  * 
and  that  "  some  speakers,  unable  to  interest  their  juve- 
nile auditory  in  any  legitimate  way,  endeavor  to  stimu- 
late attention  by  a  succession  of  stories;"!  but  "the 
stories  seem  to  be  without  point,  and  the  '  illustrations  ' 
not  brought  in  for  the  sake  of  illustrating  anything  in 
particular.''  $  "  The  practice  of  illustrating  nothing  is 
too  common  in  Sunday-schools  to  be  overlooked," 
says  Groser  j  §  and  he  adds  the  important  suggestion  : 
"  It  is  not  enough  that  there  be  doctrine  and  illus- 
tration; the  latter  must  be  made  subordinate  to  the 
former.  An  illustration  misses  its  mark  whenever  it 
withdraws  the  attention  of  the  hearer  from  the  truth 

*  Children  Led  to  the  Saviour,  p.  ii8.     Waterbury. 
t  Preface  to  Addresses  to  Children.     Green. 
X  Sunday-school  Photographs,  p.  163.     Taylor. 
2  Illustrative  Teaching,  p.  21. 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.       26/ 

which  it  illustrates."  "The  great  aim  of  the  lesson," 
says  Steel,  *  "  may  be  lost  by  the  interest  of  the  story. 
The  Spanish  artist  obliterated  certain  vases  which  he 
had  introduced  into  a  painting  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
because  he  observed  that  every  spectator  was  at  once 
affected  by  the  exquisite  finish  of  these  ornaments,  in- 
stead of  being  interested  in  the  great  subject  of  his 
art."  It  can  hardly  be  questioned  that  some  success- 
ful preachers  and  talkers  to  children  use  anecdote  and 
illustration  too  freely,  and  are  successful  in  spite  of, 
rather  than  through,  their  much  story-telling. 

So  much  being  said,  and  with  truth,  of  the  value  of 
illustration  to  the  children's  preacher,  there  is  a  possi- 
bility of  its  relative  importance  being  exaggerated,  to 
the  discouragement  of  those  who  have  least  skill  in  that 
department.  Hence  it  is  well  to  have  it  understood 
that  good  sermons  are  often  preached  to  children  with 
no  help  from  anecdote  and  little  from  illustration.  Rev. 
S.  G.  Green  of  England,  so  successful  as  a  children's 
preacher,  and  so  competent  a  judge  as  to  the  wants  of 
the  little  ones,  says,  in  the  introduction  to  his  "Ad- 
dresses," in  commendation  of  "  a  little  volume  of  Ser- 
mons to  Children,  by  the  late  Dr.  Greenwood  of  Amer- 
ica:" "In  most  qualities  of  thought  and  style  they 
surpass,  to  my  mind,  any  collection  of  children's  ser- 
mons I  ever  saw."  Turning  to  the  volume  of  sermons 
so  highly  praised,  f  it  is  seen  that  their  author  thus 
speaks  of  his  view  of  anecdotic  illustration :    "  I  re- 

*  The  Christian  Teacher  in  S.  S  ,  p.  219. 

t  Sermons  to  Children,  by  F.  W.  P.  Greenwood,  D.D.     Am.  Unit.  Asso. 


268        THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

solved  also  to  dispense  with  the  advantage  which  might 
be  derived  from  the  introduction  of  illustrative  stories, 
as  I  thought  that  children  were  already  in  possession 
of  abundance  of  that  species  of  instruction,  and  that 
I  would  rather  trust  to  the  ideas  presented  in  a  plain, 
didactic  form,  to  fix  their  attention." 

The  sermons  of  the  well  known  English  preacher  to 
children,  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Fletcher,  show  com- 
paratively few  illustrations,  and  a  published  sermon  by 
the  Rev.  J.  C.  Ryle  *  is  almost  if  not  entirely  devoid  of 
illustration,  but  by  no  means  devoid  of  interest  or  suit- 
ableness for  the  young.  A  specimen  of  its  style  is  ap- 
pended : 

"CHILDREN  WALKING  IN  TRUTH. 

/  rejoiced  greatly,  that  I  found  of  thy  children  walking  in 
truth.     II.  John  iv. 

Beloved  Children. — The  book  from  which  my  text  is  taken  is 
the  shortest  in  the  Bible.  Look  at  it  when  you  go  home,  and 
you  will  find  it  so.  It  has  only  thirteen  verses ;  but,  short  as  it 
is,  it  is  full  of  important  things,  and  I  think  the  verse  I  have 
just  read  is  one  of  them. 

This  book  is  an  epistle,  or  letter,  written  by  the  apostle  John. 
He  wrote  it  to  a  good  Christian  lady  whom  he  knew.  This  lady 
had  children,  and  some  of  them  were  the  children  spojcen  of  in 
the  text. 

It  seems  that  John  found  some  of  this  good  lady's  children  at 
a  place  where  he  happened  to  go ;  and  you  see  how  well  he 
found  them  behaving.  He  was  able  to  write  a  good  report  of 
them  to  their  mother,  and  that  is  the  report  of  our  text :  *  I  re- 
joiced greatly,  that  I  found  of  thy  children  walking  in  truth.' 

Now,  dear  children,  there  are  only  two  things  I  want  to  tell 
you  about  out  of  this  text.  Some  of  you,  perhaps,  are  thinking 
*  .      *  In  Child's  Preacher. 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.       269 

this  very  minute  '  Wliat  does  walking  in  truth  mean?'  Others, 
perhaps,  are  thinking,  '  Why  did  John  rejoice  so  greatly  ? '  I 
shall  try  to  answer  these  two  questions, 

I.  Firstly,  I  shall  try  to  show  you  when  it  can  be  said  that 
children  walk  in  truth. 

II.  Secondly,  I  shall  try  to  show  you  zvhat  were  the  reasons 
that  made  the  apostle  yohn  rejoice  so  greatly. 

Dear  children,  let  me  ask  you  all  one  favor, — let  me  ask  you 
all  to  try  to  atte^id.  I  shall  not  keep  you  long.  Come,  then,  and 
listen  to  what  I  have  to  tell  you.  May  the  Holy  Spirit  open  all 
your  hearts,  and  bless  what  I  say ! 

And  now  I  have  finished  what  I  have  to  say  about  our  text.  I 
have  done  what  I  promised.  I  have  told  you  what  it  is  to  walk  in 
truth.  This  is  one  thing.  I  have  told  you  why  John  rejoiced  so 
much  to  find  this  lady's  children  walking  in  truth.  That  is 
another.  Let  me  now  wind  up  all  by  saying  something  which, 
by  God  s  help,  may  fasten  this  sermon  in  your  minds.  Alas ! 
how  many  sermons  are  forgotten  !  I  want  this  sermon  to  abide 
in  your  hearts  and  do  good. 

Ask  yourselves,  then,  every  one,  '  Would  John,  if  he  knew  me 
at  this  time,  rejoice  over  me  ?  Would  John  be  pleased  if  he  saw 
my  ways  and  my  behavior,  or  would  he  look  sorrowful  and  grave  ? ' 

O  children,  children,  do  not  neglect  this  question.  This  is  no 
light  matter.  It  may  be  your  life.  No  wise  man  will  ever  rejoice 
over  bad  children.  They  may  be  clean  and  pretty,  and  have  fine 
clothes,,  and  look  well  outwardly  ;  but  a  wise  man  will  feel  sad 
when  he  sees  them ;  he  will  feel  they  are  wrong  inwardly.  They 
have  not  new  hearts — they  are  not  going  to  heaven.  Believe  me, 
it  is  far  better  to  be  good  than  to  be  pretty.  It  is  far  better  to 
have  grace  in  your  hearts  than  to  have  much  money  in  your 
pockets,  or  fine  clothes  on  your  backs.  None  but  children  wha 
love  Christ  are  the  children  who  rejoice  a  wise  man's  heart. 

Beloved  children,  hear  the  last  words  I  have  to  say  to  you.  I 
give  you  all  an  invitation  from  Christ,  my  Master.  I  say  to  you 
in  his  name,  Come  and  walk  in  truth.'''' 


2/0     THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

It  is  thus  manifest  that  the  free  use  of  illustration  is 
by  no  means  the  foremost  requisite  in  preaching  to 
children.  Yet  it  has  an  important  place,  and  one  that 
is  not  likely  to  be  overlooked. 

PREACH    SCRIPTURALLY. 

In  choosing  illustrations,  the  Bible  should  be  held  as 
the  choicest  treasury  of  supply.  Its  imagery  and  inci- 
dent are  of  never  failing  variety  and  interest,  and 
children  cannot  be  better  instructed  or  pleased  than 
through  those  things  which  God  has  written  for  their 
benefit.  No  other  topics  are  of  equal  importance  with 
those  found  in  the  Bible ;  nor  are  their  like  to  be  found 
in  freshness  and  uniform  attractiveness.  The  children 
hear  enough  else  in  other  places.  In  God's  house,  on 
his  day,  nothing  is  better  for  them  than  what  is 
furnished  in  his  Word. 

Charles  Dickens,  in  commenting  on  Preaching  in 
London  Theatres,  some  years  since,  said  on  this  point : 

"  In  the  New  Testament  there  is  the  most  beautiful 
and  affecting  history  conceivable  by  man,  and  there 
are  the  terse  models  for  all  prayer  and  all  preaching. 
As  to  the  models,  imitate  them,  Sunday  preachers  ;  else, 
why  are  they  there  ?  consider.  As  to  the  history,  tell 
it.  Some  people  cannot  read ;  some  people  will  not 
read  ;  many  people  (this  especially  holds  among  the 
young  and  ignorant)  find  it  hard  to  pursue  the  verse 
form  in  which  the  book  is  presented  to  them,  and  im- 
agine that  those  breaks  imply  gaps  and  want  of  con- 
tinuity.    Help  them  over  that  first  stumbling-block,  by 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.       2/1 

setting  forth  the  history  in  narrative,  with  no  fear  of 
exhausting  it.  You  will  never  preach  so  well ;  you  will 
never  move  them  so  profoundly;  you  will  never  send 
them  away  with  half  so  much  to  think  of." 

Jesus,  the  Model  Preacher,  used  Scripture  freely  in 
his  discourses,  and  his  most  useful  ministers  have  im- 
itated him  in  this.  "  Christ  made  much  of  the  written 
Word,  It  was  his  appeal  at  all  times.  It  dropped 
from  his  lips  as  honey  from  the  honeycomb.  He 
quoted  the  oracles  of  God  to  confirm  his  own  sayings. 
....  There  is  scarcely  a  book  from  which  he  did 
not  directly  quote,  and  the  words  of  the  great  singer 
of  Israel  trembled  on  his  dying  lips.  Herein  the 
apostles  followed  their  Master.  They  were  Scriptural 
teachers.     St.  Peter  was  so  most  strikingly  on  the  day 

of  Pentecost The  historian  of  [Paul's]  labors  says 

of  him,  again  and  again  that  '  Paul,  as  his  manner 
was,  ....  reasoned  with  them  out  of  the  Scriptures.' 
Luther  rejoiced  when  he  received  his  degree  in  Divin- 
ity, that  he  was  a  Biblical  doctor."* 

TREAT  SACRED  THEMES  REVERENTLY. 

In  all  the  use  of  Scripture  themes  and  terms,  there 
should  be  sincere  reverence  displayed  by  the  children's 
preacher.  There  is  a  certain  flippancy  of  speech  com- 
mon among  talkers  to  children,  even  in  the  mention  of 
the  holy  names  of  the  Trinity,  or  of  the  most  sacred  top- 
ics of  religion,  which  should  be  shunned  conscien- 
tiously.   Reverence  for  God,  and  for  all  that  in  any  sense 

*  The  Christian  Teacher  in  S.  S.,  p.  213. 


2/2      THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

represents  him,  must  be  taught  by  example  as  well  as 
by  precept  to  the  young. 

"'Put  off  thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet;  for  the  place 
whereon  thou  standest  is  holy  ground.'  This  should  be, 
from  the  first,  the  temper  carefully  wrought  into  our 
children's  minds,  if  we  would  have  them  approach  God 
with  acceptance.  To  teach  them  to  think  boldly  of 
mysteries,  in  the  vain  hope  of  explaining  to  their 
childish  minds  what,  in  the  fulness  of  their  highest 
understanding,  they  can  never  truly  comprehend,  may 
make  them  shrewd  and  forward  questioners,  but  can- 
not make  them  meek  and  teachable  disciples."* 

It  is  better  to  have  children  seriously  iinpressed  with 
an  important  truth,  in  their  Sabbath  service,  than  to 
have  them  thoroughly  amused^  so  as  to  laugh  with  or 
at  the  speaker,  or  connect  ludicrous  associations  with 
a  passage  of  Scripture,  albeit  not  all  who  address  them 
seem  to  think  so. 

VARIETY  DESIRABLE. 

Monotony  is  no  pleasanter  to  children  than  to  adults. 
They  love  variety,  and  to  the  children's  preacher,  ver- 
satility is  an  important  qualification.  An  examination 
of  the  best  published  sermons  to  children  will  show 
what  diversity  of  themes  is  attainable  within  due  bounds. 
Says  Mr.  Edmond,  of  his  first  volume, f  "The  sub- 
jects of  discourse  have  been  selected  and  arranged  so 
as  to' present  as  much  variety  as  possible.     Some  are 

*  Preface  to  The  Children  and  the  Lion,  by  Dr.  Wilberforce. 
\  In  Preface  to  The  Children's  Church  at  Home. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      2/3 

connected  with  Scripture  characters  of  note, — some  are 
on  the  essential  doctrines  of  the  gospel, — some  on 
special  but  important  views  of  duty, — some  are  anec- 
dotical, — some  more  didactic, — some  have  threads  of 
allegory.  All  it  is  hoped  will  be  found  simple,  in- 
structive and  pleasing."  Of  his  second  volume,  he 
says,  "  Diversity  alike  in  the  subjects  treated,  and  in 
the  mode  of  treating  them,  has  again  been  aimed  at; 
and  the  readers  of  the  first  series  will  find,  amid  the 
*  old  stories,'  that  must  always  recur,  not  a  few  topics 
different  from  any  there  introduced,"  and  this  may  be 
made  true  of  all  preaching  of  this  class. 

Yet  the  desire  for  mere  variety  may  be  carried  too 
far.  The  same  truth  must  often  be  several  times  re- 
stated to  give  it  propei;  force,  and  a  single  theme  may 
gain  greatly  by  being  newly  presented  in  varying  form, 
yet  ever  similar  in  substance.  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng,  who 
has  doubtless  preached  more  children's  sermons  than 
any  other  pastor  in  this  country — perhaps  in  the  world 
— and  this  with  uniform  success,  is  in  the  "habit  of 
preaching  in  se7'ies  of  sermons  to  the  young,"  often 
giving  a  number  of  sermons  on  one  text.  Thus  he 
has  (somewhat  paradoxically)  "  ten  on  the  text,  '  There 
is  one  and  there  is  not  a  second;'  fourteen  on  ^A 
three-fold  cord  is  not  easily  broken,'"  and  nine  on  "Ye 
are  come  unto  Mount  Sion,"  &c.  Yet  Dr.  Tyng's  ser- 
mons would  never  be  called  monotonous ;  nor  are  any 
of  his  texts  yet  worn  out. 

12* 


2/4     THE    children's    PREACHING   SERVICE. 

KEEP  CHILDREN'S  MINDS  ACTIVE. 

Even  in  the  efforts  to  present  subjects  and  to  employ 
language  suited  to  the  comprehension  of  children,  the 
speaker  to  them  must  not  expect,  nor  should  he  en- 
deavor, to  say  nothing  but  what  they  will  fully  under- 
stand. He  should  keep  ahead  of  them,  that  their 
minds  may  be  on  the  stretch.  They  would  gain  but 
little,  if  they  never  heard  that  which  was  not  clear  to 
them.  While  the  subject  should  be  within  their  mental 
reach,  and  presented  in  clear  and  simple  terms,  it  can- 
not be  expected  that  it  will  prove  wholly  intelligible  to 
them  at  the  outset.  They  should  be  able  to  learn 
enough  from  it  for  encouragement,  while  having  yet 
other  attainment  in  its  lessons  to  strive  after.  Says 
the  Lord  Bishop  of  Oxford  in  commending  allegories : 
"  The  minds  of  children  may  be  fatally  dwarfed  by 
never  having  presented  to  them  anything  but  that 
,  which  they  can  understand  without  effort."  * 

And  Mr.  Green  condemns  the  practice  of  those 
speakers  to  children  who  "  attenuate  the  matter  to  the 
last  degree  of  feebleness,  as  if  simplicity  and  babyism 
were  identical.  'He  talked  to  us  just  as  if  we  were 
all  little  children,'  was  a  Sunday  scholar's  scornful  com- 
ment on  a  sermon  of  this  class."  t 

MANNER  OF  ADDRESS. 

There  is  scarcely  a  limit  to  the  suggestions  that  may 
be  made  to  the  children's  speaker.     Everything  that 

*  Preface  to  "Bhe  Children  and  the  Lion, 
t  Intl-oductlon  to  Addresses  to  Children. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        2/5 

goes  to  render  the  preacher  to  adults  effective  is  of 
service  to  him  who  addresses  the  young.  His  very 
manner  of  speech  is  potent.  His  tones  of  voice  may 
attract,  enhven  and  thrill  his  young  hearers,  or  may 
chill  and  repel  them.  "  Children  will  respond  to  every 
gleam  of  the  eye,  to  every  throb  of  the  heart;  but  as 
by  intuition  they  will  detect  and  repudiate  a  lukewarm 

earnestness  or  a  counterfeit  enthusia^n Tears 

will  call  for  tears,  love  for  love,  tenderness  for  tender 
ness."^  The  speaker  may  so  invest  the  truth  he  utters 
with  his  personal  qualities  of  attractiveness,  that  for 
his  sake,  the  children  will  believe  and  love  it. 

A  certain  vivacity,  a  quickness  and  life  in  speech 
and  manner,  is  called  for  by  children,  which  is  less  im- 
portant in  addressing  adults.  The  children's  preacher 
should  think  and  speak  and  move  with  somewhat  of 
their  promptness  and  "  snap,"  if  he  would  carry  along 
their  sympathies. 

And  he  should  be  as  natural  and  unconstrained  as 
possible.  He  should  talk  to  the  little  ones,  rather  than 
read  an  essay  or  deliver  an  address  to  them.  "  I  can 
understand  your  talkirC  talk,  but  I  can't  much  under- 
stand your preachifi'  talk,"  t  was  the  remark  of  a  German 
hearer  to  an  American  minister;  and  the  same  could 
be  said  by  many  a  child  to  those  who  essay  to  address 
him.  "  Naturalness  implies  simplicity  in  language,  in 
manner,  and  in  illustration.  The  beauty  of  childhood 
is  its  guileless  simplicity,  and  he  who  learns  again,  or 

*  House's  S.  S.  Hand-Book,  p.  130. 

t  See  Congregationalist  and  Recorder  for  Oct.  29,  1868. 


2/6      THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

who  never  loses,  this  freshness  of  heart,  will  become 
the  best  recipient  and  the  most  successful  teacher  of 
divine  truth."* 

SEATING   OF   THE   CHILDREN. 

The  location  of  the  children  in  the  house  of  worship, 
when  they  are  being  preached  to,  is  a  matter  of  not  a 
little  moment.  J'hey  are  sometimes  put  in  the  gal- 
leries, to  be  talked  to  over  the  heads  of  their  parents. 
The  folly  of  such  an  arrangement  for  reaching  child- 
ren without  displacing  adults  below,  is  much  like  the 
sportsman's  attempt  to  shoot  around  a  corner  by  cur- 
ving his  gun-barrel.  The  charge  will  be  lost,  and  the 
gun  may  burst,  but  the  object  aimed  at  will  not  be  hit. 
The  only  way  to  speak  to  children,  or  to  shoot,  is 
straightforward.  Tortuous  or  indirect  addresses  to 
them  are  useless.  They  should  be  in  front  of  the 
speaker,  where  he  can  look  into  their  eyes,  and  they 
into  his;  otherwise,  any  aid  of  magnetic  influence  is 
out  of  the  question ;  there  can  be  no  direct  personal 
intercourse  between  him  'and  them,  in  his  discourse. 
Yet  the  children  should  be  brought  together,  where 
they  can  have  an  atmosphere  of  mutual  sympathy  and 
encouragement.  If  they  are  scattered  throughout  the 
congregation,  they  are  likely  to  be  overawed  by  the 
adults  under  whose  shadow  they  are  placed.  They 
cannot  answer  questions  freely,  nor  feel  that  the  meet- 
ing is  their  own ;  nor  is  the  preacher  as  likely  to  re- 
member that  he  is  addressing  only  them ;  and  this  is 

*  London  S.  S.  Times,  Aug.  21,  1868. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING   SERVICE.        27/ 

an  important  item  in  his  effort.  "  The  temptation  to 
please  the  adult  portion  of  the  audience,  rather  than 
to  edify  the  children,  will  sometimes  be  strong,  but 
yielding  to  it  must  ordinarily  be  disastrous."* 

Says  Dr.  Todd :  "  The  best  way  of  preaching  to 
children  is  to  have  them  eiitirely  alone, — not  an  adult 
in  the  house.  You  can  then  come  down  to  them,  and 
can  interest  them.  The  next  best  way  is  to  have  all 
the  children  in  the  centre  of  the  house,  and  the  congre- 
tion  above  and  around  them  ;  and  then  let  the  speaker 
forget^  if  he  can,  that  any  body  is  present  besides  the 
children."  t 

"At  all  such  public  meetings  of  children,"  says  Rev. 
Edward  Eggleston,  $  "one  of  the  most  important  points 
is  to  have  the  children  seated  in  a  body  in  the  centre 
and  front  of  the  room."  And  Mr.  House  adds,  wisely : 
"  Have  the  youngest  nearest  you,  and  often  direct  your 
remarks  to  them ;  varying  your  tone  by  an  occasional 
word  to  some  one  who  may  be  less  attentive  than 
others.  As  long  as  you  have  the  eyes  of  the  youngest, 
you  are  pretty  sure  of  the  eyes  and  ears  of  the  older 
ones."§ 

If  the  children  are  worth  preaching  to  at  all,  they 
are  entitled  to  the  best  place  in  the  sanctuary, — the 
place  where  they  can  best  hear,  and  will  be  most  likely 
to  receive  profit.* 

*  House's  S.  S   Hand-Book,  p.  129. 

t  Preface  to  Lectures  to  Children. 

X  In  appendix  to  House's  S.  S.  Hand-Book. 

§  House's  S.  S.  Hand-Book,  p.  130. 


2/8      THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

And  now  it  only  remains  to  further  illustrate  the 
style  and  modes  of  successful  preaching  to  children, 
by  examples  from  the  sermons  and  addresses  of 
those  peculiarly  skilled  in  this  department  of  Chris- 
tian labor. 

SPECIMEN  DISCOURSES  TO  CHILDREN. 

The  sermons  and  addresses  here  given  have  been 
kindly  furnished,  by  the  several  authors,  at  the  request 
of  the  compiler  of  this  volume.  They  are  not  put 
forward  by  their  writers  as  in  any  sense  models,  but 
are  specimens  of  their  ordinary  discourses  to  the  chil- 
dren of  their  charge.  None  of  them  have  before  been 
furnished  for  publication.  Only  one  or  two  of  them 
have  ever  been  reported  partially  by  others,  for  the 
public. 


The  first  sermon  is  one  of  Dr.  Tyng's  latest  series, 
of  nine  sermons  in  all,  on  The  Privileges  of  the 
Youthful  Christian,  from  Hebrews  xii.  22-24. 

THE    RULING    POWER    OF    AN    EXALTED    SAVIOUR. 

BY  THE   REV.  STEPHEN    H.  TYNG,  D.D., 
Rector   of   St.    George's   (Episcopal)    Church,    New   York, 

But  ye  are  co77ie  unto  Mount  Sion,  and  unto  the  city  of  the  living~ 
God,  the  heavenly  yerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable  company  of 
angels. 

To  the  general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born,  which  are 
written  in  heaven,  and  to  God  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits  of 
Just  men  7nade  perfect.     And  to  Jesus  the  mediator  of  the  new 


THE    children's    PREACHING   SERVICE.        279 

covenant^  and  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling,  that  speaketh  better  things 
than  that  of  Abel.     Heb.  xii.  22-24. 

These  beautiful  descriptions  illustrate  the  present  actual  privi- 
leges of  the  children  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  Have  you,  in  the 
renewing  of  your  heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  a  new  and  living 
faith,  embraced  the  promises  of  Jesus,  and  yielded  to  his  com- 
mands ?  Then  these  are  the  inestimable  privileges  bestowed  upon 
you.  And  you  may  thankfully  say,  "  I  have  come  to  Mount  Zion." 
Here  is  the  catalogue  of  the  blessings  which  have  been  bestowed 
upon  you  by  the  infinite  grace  of  God  in  the  gospel.  I  wish  you 
to  contemplate  them  separately  with  me.  Great  and  precious  in- 
structions are  presented  to  you  in  the  illustrations  here  arranged. 
The  first  is  the  Mount  Zion.     "  Ye  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion." 

I.  Its  historical  meaning.  Two  separate  hills  made  up  the 
southern  part  of  the  city  of  Jerusalem, — Moriah  on  the  east, 
Zion  on  the  west.  When  David  selected  Jerusalem,  then  called 
Jebus,  as  the  seat  of  his  kingdom  over  Israel,  Zion  was  in  pos- 
session of  the  natives  of  the  land.  They  called  it  the  Castle  of 
Zion.  It  was  so  fortified  that  they  boasted  that  even  the  lame 
and  the  blind  who  were  within  it  could  defend  it  against  assault. 
Its  name  of  Zion  meant  a  high  monument  of  stones, — a  walled 
fortress.  This  stronghold  of  Zion,  David  took,  and  called  it  the 
City  of  David, — the  royal  town,  and  so  it  remains.  From  that 
time,  Zion  became  the  seat  of  David's  throne,  the  title  which 
described  his  royal  power.  Thus,  in  the  language  of  succeeding 
Scripture,  it  is  called:  "  I  have  set  my  king  upon  my  holy  hill  of 
Zion." 

But  David  and  his  temporal  throne  were  but  typical  of  that 
great  Son  of  David,  the  glorious  Redeemer  of  mankind.  And 
Mount  Zion,  in  all  the  language  of  prophecy,  and  in  all  the 
descriptions  of  the  gospel  history,  is  the  royal  power  of  Jesus,  the 
dominion  of  the  Son  of  God.  "  The  Redeemer  shall  come  out  of 
Zion."  "  The  ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  return  unto  Zion." 
"  The  Lord  shall  reign  in  Mount  Zion."  "  I  looked,  and  lo,  a 
Lamb  stood  on  the  Mount  Zion."  The  Lamb  is  Lord  of  lords, 
and  King  of  kings. 


280        THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

II.  Its  practical  meaning.  This  is  the  first  privilege  of  the 
child  of  God,  the  member  of  Christ,  in  this  passage,  "  Ye  are 
come  u"nto  Mount  Zion" — that  is,  you  are  brought  to  the  royal 
power  of  Jesus, — to  Jesus  as  your  exalted  king  and  ruler,  by  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  "  The  joy  of  the  whole  earth  is 
Mount  Zion."  "  Let  Mount  Zion  rejoice."  "  Walk  about  Zion, 
and  go  round  about  her:  tell  the  towers  thereof."  "This  God 
is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever." 

This  is  the  privilege  here  described.  Every  true  believer  in 
Jesus  has  come  unto  Mount  Zion; — is  "made  a  partaker  of  the 
royal  power  of  Jesus.  His  Saviour  is  a  triumphant,  ruling 
Saviour, — God  over  all,  blessed  forever !  *'  Ye  are  come  unto 
Mount  Zion."  You  have  a  royal,  ruling  Saviour.  Your  salva- 
tion is  in  his  hands,  accomplished  by  his  power ;  your  safety  in 
his  truth,  secure  and  unchangeable  in  him.  If  you  love  him,  it  is 
because  he  first  loved  you.     You  are  in  him,  and  he  in  you. 

Think  of  this  precious  privilege  with  thankfulness.  How  se- 
cure and  perfect  is  your  condition  in  this  ruling  Saviour.  They  who 
love  him,  are  like  the  "Mount  Zion,  which  cannot  be  removed," 
but  standeth  fast  forever  and  ever.  This  great  privilege  the 
gospel  brings  to  you, — security  in  a  ruling,  almighty  Saviour. 
Because  he  lives,  you  shall  live  also.  When  you  accept,  in  your 
heart,  the  invitation  of  the  gospel,  w^hen  you  receive,  in  your 
heart,  the  Saviour  whom  it  brings  to  you, — this  gospel  gives  you 
all  the  triumphant  blessings  which  are  laid  up  in  him.  It  begs 
you  to  consider  them  and  your  own  blessedness  in  having  them. 
It  says  to  you,  "  Ye  are  not  come  to  the  mount  that  burned  with 
fire" — "  Ye  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion."  Crowned  with  salvation, 
you  are  not  to  fight  your  way  to  peace  through  impassable 
difficulties ;  you  are  to  accept  peace  as  a  divine  gift.  You  are 
not  to  find  salvation  in  your  own  works  or  by  your  own  power ; 
you  are  to  receive  it  all  as  the  work  of  a  glorious  Saviour, — as  a 
gift  of  boundless  grace,  made  yours  through  the  divine  power 
and  the  divine  love.  You  are  not  brought  to  a  dominion  of  fear 
and  contest,  but  to  a  dominion  of  peace  and  triumph  and  rest. 
You  "  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion," — to  a  royal,  ruling  Saviour, 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.       28 1 

III.     In  its  actual  purpose. 

1.  This  is  Jesus  in  the  triumphs  of  his  redemption.  On  earth, 
as  man,  he  labored,  suffered  and  died,  for  you.  Then,  he  was  a 
contending,  struggling  Saviour.  He  had  a  baptism  of  unspeak- 
able suffering,  a  death  accursed  and  outcast.  He  "  endured  the 
cross  and  despised  the  shame."  But  he  arose  in  triumph.  He 
ascended  in  glory.  God  raised  him  up  by  his  own  right  hand, 
and  "  set  his  king  upon  his  holy  hill  of  Zion."  And  there  he  is, 
— a  triumphant  Saviour.  Redemption  has  triumphed  in  him. 
Divine  acceptance  has  been  gained  for  you,  in  his  perfect  obedi- 
ence. And  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne, 
and  ruleth  forevermore. 

And  when,  with  a  grateful,  trusting  heart,  you  believe  him, 
submit  to  him,  accept  him,  follow  him,  you  come  to  no  uncertain 
gospel,  no  yea  and  nay  gospel,  but  to  a  glorious  Saviour,  to  an 
everlasting  salvation,  to  a  throne  of  triumphant  power,  to  a  crown 
of  endless  glory.     "Ye  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion." 

2.  This  is  Jesus  in  his  earthly  dominion.  The  government  over 
all  things  is  upon  his  shoulder.  He  maketh  "  all  things  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  them  that  love  him."  When  you  come  to  Jesus 
as  your  Saviour,  you  come  to  an  earthly  life  ruled  by  his  wisdom 
and  his  love.  All  things  here  are  subject  to  his  will.  As  for 
him,  his  work  is  perfect.  Go  round  about  Zion,  mark  her  bul- 
warks. Tell  it  to  those  who  come  after,  "  This  God  is  our  God. 
We  have  a  goodly  heritage.  He  lays  out  our  path,  he  orders 
all  our  ways.  He  leads  us  according  to  his  good  pleasure.  He 
never  fails,  and  never  forsakes  us.  The  Lord  is  our  helper.  He 
provides.  He  directs.  He  prospers.  He  bestows.  The  Lord 
himself  is  our  inheritance  even  here.  We  have  our  portion  in 
him.     We  '  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion.^ " 

3.  This  is  Jesus  in  his  spiritual  power.  He  rules  within  us,  as 
well  as  for  us  in  heaven,  and  around  and  over  us  on  the  earth. 
We  have  within  us  a  ruling  Saviour.  A  thousand  enemies  are 
there.  A  thousand  contests  are  there.  Difficulties  unceasingly 
arising  are  there.  We  often  fall, — we  are  often  cast  down.  But 
the  house  of  Saul  waxes  weaker  and  weaker,  and  the  house  of 


282     THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

David  stronger  and  stronger.  Christ  will  give  us  the  victory, 
and  makes  us  more  than  conquerors  through  his  power.  Tem- 
pers, lusts,  habits,  he  will  subdue  by  his  Spirit.  Virtues,  love, 
obedience,  he  will  create  within  us  ;  by  his  power  he  will  cause 
us  to  triumph  in  all  things.  And  we  are  never  to  fear.  We  are 
to  trust  and  not  be  afraid ;  to  realize  the  power,  the  truth,  the 
loving-kindness  of  our  Lord,  and  not  to  dishonor  him  by  unbe- 
lief. "  Rejoice  not  against  me,  O  mine  enemy ;  though  I  fall,  I 
will  rise  again ;  though  I  sit  in  darkness,  the  Lord  will  be  a  light 
unto  me  ;  these  things  will  he  do  unto  me  and  not  forsake  me." 
Ye  "  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion."  Lift  up  your  heads,  and  rejoice 
with  exceeding  joy.     "  Your  redemption  draweth  nigh." 

4.  It  is  Jesus  in  his  heavenly  presence.  He  dwells  in  light  in- 
accessible,— the  brightness  of  the  Father's  glory.  But  where  he  is, 
there  shall  also  his  servants  be.  This  is  his  sure  promise,  "  I  go 
to  prepare  a  place  for  you  ;  ....  I  will  come  again  and  receive 
you  unto  myself,  that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also."  We 
are  saved  by  this  hope,  upheld  by  it,  encouraged  by  it,  made  par- 
takers of  it.  It  is  "  an  anchor  to  our  souls,  both  sure  and  steadfast." 
In  the  light  of  it  we  walk ;  with  the  joy  of  it  upon  us,  we  press  on- 
ward. Rejoicing  in  it,  we  hold  on  unto  the  end,  "more  than 
conquerors  through  him  who  hath  loved  us,  and  given  himself 
for  us."  To  this  glorious  hope  we  are  begotten  again  by  the 
Spirit  whom  he  hath  given  to  us.  Our  glorious  head  is  in  heaven ; 
and  all  his  members,  chosen  and  beloved,  shall  be  there  also. 
This  is  our  unspeakable  privilege.  We  "are  come  unto  Mount 
Zion." 

This  is  the  ruling  power  of  Jesus, 

In  a  redemption  complete  in  heaven. 

In  a  providence  governing  on  earth. 

In  a  Spirit  in  the  hearts  of  his  people. 

In  a  glorious  hope  which  he  has  laid  up. 

These  all,  the  gospel  brings  us.  To  these  the  Holy  Spirit 
leads  us  in  conversion,  when  we  embrace  this  gospel. 

In  living,  trusting  faith  we  may  sit  down  at  a  Saviour's  feet^ 
and  say  with  thankfulness,  **  We  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion  ; "  to 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.        283 

an  almighty,  ruling  Saviour,  who  will  never  leave  us  nor  suffer  us 
to  leave  him.  He  will  hold  us  by  his  right  hand.  He  will  guide 
us  by  his  counsel,  he  will  afterwards  receive  us  to  his  glory. 

This  is  your  privilege  in  the  gospel.  Take  it  as  your  own. 
Make  it  the  basis  of  believing  prayer.  We  "  are  come  to  Mount 
Zion."  Make  it  the  foundaflon  of  thankful  praise.  Make  it. the 
fountain  of  strength  and  peace.  Make  it  the  element  of  your 
Christian  walk  and  warfare.  Live  and  walk  as  becomes  it ; — the 
children  of  a  King.  *'  Ye  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion,"  to  the 
royal,  triumphant,  glorious  power  of  a  ruling  Saviour.  Thy 
God,  O  Zion,  reign eth  forever  in  love. 


The  following  is  the  outline  of  the  second  of  Dr. 
Tyng's  recent  series.  In  successive  sermons  of  this 
kind,  the  truth  of  the  whole  passage  is  brought  out  with 
rare  power  and  beauty,  and  the  repeated  presentation 
of  the  great  theme,  in  ever-varying  form,  tends  to 
impress  it  durably  on  the  children's  minds.  The 
privileges  of  the  youthful  Christian  are  shown  under 
the  successive  types  of  the  text:  i.  Mount  Zion. 
2.  The  city  of  the  living  God.  3.  The  heavenly  Jeru- 
salem. 4.  The  innumerable  company  of  angels.  5. 
The  general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born, 
which  are  written  in  heaven.  6.  God  the  Judge  of  all. 
7.  The  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect.  8.  Jesus,  the 
mediator  of  the  new  covenant.  9.  The  blood  of  sprink- 
ling, that  speaketh  better  things  than  that  of  Abel. 

Ye  are  come  .  .  .  itnto  the  city  of  the  living  God. 

.  .  .  The  divine  illustrations  are  as  precise  as  they  are  full. 
And  when  the  Spirit  describes  your  Christian  privileges  as 
coining  to  the  city  of  the  living  God,  we  may  consider  what  the 
special  points  of  illustration   are   which   are  intended  by  this 


254      THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

figure.  ...  It  is  that  aspect  of  the  present  church  of  God,  which 
the  analogy  of  a  city  so  clearly  displays. 

I.  The  church  of  God  on  earth  is  a  scene  oi  great  activity. 

An  earthly  city  bustles  with  labor Everybody  must  be  at 

work The  church  of  Jesus,  the  association  of  his  redeemed, 

is  no  place  for  .idleness. 

II.  .  .  .  It  is  a  scene  and  relation  of  constant  temptation.    Such 

is  the  earthly  city  always "Ye  are  come  to  the  city  of  the 

living  God."     But  your  present  life  is  yet  more  completely  a  life 

of  contest "  Let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth  take  heed 

lest  he  fall." 

III.  A  city  life  is  ...  .  also  a  life  of  peculiar  usefulness.  .... 
The  objects  of  personal  effort  are  multiplied  ....  and  the  ability 
of  every  agent  is  as  much  enhanced  as  the  opportunities  which 

call  upon  him  are  multiplied Jesus  has  called  you  in  his 

church  to  a  life  of  positive  usefulness. 

IV.  A  city  life    demands   the   most  intense  effort.  ....  Every 

professian,  living,  trade,  is  on  the  stretch No  man  has  a 

rightful  hope   of  success,   but  by  personal,   patient,   intelligent 
efforts Thus  are  you  called  to  the  city  of  God  .... 

V.  But  a  city  life  is  also  a  life  of  great  results.     All  the  great 

things   of  ^arth  are  accomplished   by  its  cities And  you 

are  brought  into  the  city  of  the  living  God,  to  be  a  partaker  of 
unspeakable  triumphs. 


SAMSON  S    RIDDLE,    OR    THE    SLAYER    SLAIN. 

BY   THE   REV.  A.  J.  GORDON, 
Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church,  Jamaica  Plain,  Mass. 

Out  of  the  eater  came  forth  meat:  and  out  of  the  strong  came  forth 
sweet7iess.      Judges  xiv.  14. 

Samson,  the  strong  man  of  Israel,  is  journeying  to  Timnath, 
and  as  he  is  passing  a  certain'  vineyard  a  young  lion  comes  out 
against  him,  roaring  and  gnashing  his  teeth  and  saying  to  himself, 


^ 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.       285 

no  doubt — "  What  a  splendid  meal  this  big  man  will  make  me." 
Samson  is  unarmed.  But  he  has  what  is  mighter  than  any  hu- 
man weapon — "  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  " — resting  upon  him ;  and 
so  seizing  the  lion  with  his  hands,  he  tears  him  open  as  easily  as 
you  could  tear  a  sheet  of  paper  :  and  having  done  this  he  goes  on 
his  way  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  Passing  this  way  again  not 
long  after,  he  thought  he  would  turn  aside  and  take  a  look  at  the 
carcass  of  his  old  enemy ;  and  while  he  is  looking  at  it  he  dis- 
covers to  his  surprise  that  a  swarm  of  bees  has  taken  up  its  abode 
inside  the  body,  and  that  already  quite  a  little  store  of  honey  has 
been  collected.  So,  taking  out  the  honey  and  eating  it,  it  turns 
out  singularly  enough  that  Samson  makes  a  meal  out  of  the  lion, 
instead  of  the  lion  making  a  meal  out  of  Samson. 

Afterwards,  when  Samson  had  made  his  w^edding  feast,  and  a 
Jarge  number  of  friends  were  present,  he  made  this  story  of  his 
experience  into  a  riddle,  and  offered  a  large  prize  to  any  one  who 
would  guess  it.  And  this  was  the  riddle  :  "  Out  of  the  eater 
came  forth  meat ;  and  out  of  the  strong  came  forth  sweetness." 
Now  I  cannot  stop  to  tell  you,  children,  how  the  riddle  was 
guessed;  you  will  finc^this  described  in  the  chapter  in  w^hich  the 
text  occurs.  I  only  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  the  lessons  to 
be  derived  from  this  story. 

I.  First — There  is  a  lion  lying  in  zv  ait  for  all  of yo'u.  Wherever 
you  go,  he  is  sure  to  come  out  against  you.  The  apostle  Peter 
tells  you  who  he  is,  and  warns  you  against  him.  "  Your  adver- 
sary, the  Devil,  as  a  roaring  lion  walketh  about  seeking  whom  he 
may  devour." 

But,  children,  you  will  say,  "  I  have  never  seen  this  lion  or 
heard  him  roar ;  how  do  I  know  that  he  is  seeking  to  destroy 
me  ? "  Ah  !  but  you  have  seen  him  :  you  have  heard  him  roar. 
For  you  must  remember  that  he  comes  to  you  in  a  great  many 
different  forms. 

I.  Anger  is  one  form  he  takes.  Look  at  that  boy  who  is  fight- 
ing. Don't  you  see  the  lion  rising  up  within  him  ?  See  how  he 
scratches  with  his  finger  nails.  Isn't  that  the  lion's  claws  ?  See 
how  he  grates  his  teeth.     Isn't  that  the  lion's  gnashing  ?     Hear 


286        THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

how  he  swears,  rages,  and  threatens.  Isn't  that  the  lion's 
roaring  ?  Surely  the  devil  has  got  this  boy  completely  in  his 
power  now.  He  is  "  tearing  his  soul  like  a  lion  ;  he  is  rending 
it  in  pieces." 

2.  Falsehood  is  another  form  this  lion  takes.  Here  is  a  boy 
who  is  tempted  to  deceive — to  lie  to  his  father.  He  knows  that 
it  is  wicked,  and  that  God  will  be  displeased  with  him ;  but 
something  seems  to  rise  up  within  him  to  make  him  do  it  in 
spite  of  himself.  That  is  that  old  lion  the  Devil.  The  Bible 
tells  us  that  "  he  is  a  liar  and  the  father  of  it  j "  and  whenever 
you  are  tempted  to  tell  a  falsehood,  you  may  be  sure  that  it  is 
the  Devil  that  has  come  upon  you  to  destroy  you. 

3.  Dishonesty  is  another  form  that  this  lion  assumes.  Have 
you  ever  seen  a  boy  trying  to  steal  ?  How  he  sneaks  and  skulks 
about ;  how  he  stealthily  watches  his  chance ;  how  he  will  lie 
and  deceive  and  swear  in  order  to  accomplish  his  ends.  Is  not 
it  very  strange  that  he  should  do  so  ?  Oh,  it  is  that  cursed  lion 
— that  devil  of  dishonesty — that  does  it.  David  described  him 
long  ago — the  thief—"  He  lieth  in  wait  secretly  as  a  lion  in  his 
den;  he  croucheth  and  humbleth  himsaif;  his  mouth  is  full  of 
cursing  and  fraud."  These  are  only  some  of  the  forms  he 
assumes  to  injure  and  destroy  men. 

II.  The  second  lesson  drawn  from  this  history  is  this  : 
You  must  slay  the  lion  of  tetnptation,  or  he  will  slay  you.     If  the 
lion  that  besets  you  more  fiercely  is  anger,  you  must  conquer  it. 
When  it  attacks  you,  instead  of  letting  it  overcome  you,  you  must 
rend  it,  and  trample  it  beneath  your  feet : 

Illustration.  Looking  from  my  window  one  day,  I  saw  two  ■ 
boys  meet,  each  of  them  having  a  basket  of  candies  and  fruit. 
One  was  a  stout  rough  looking  boy :  the  other  a  pale  inoffen- 
sive lad.  As  they  met,  I  heard  the  large  boy  say,  *'  I'm  going  to 
give  you  a  thrashing  ;  you  have  no  business  selling  apples  on  my 
territory,"  and  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  struck  him  a 
blow  that  almost  felled  him  to  the  ground.  The  pale  boy 
dropped  his  basket ;  the  fire  flashed  from  his  eyes  ;  he  grated  his 
teeth  and  doubled  up  his  fist.     "  Now,"  said  I  to  myself,  "  poor 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.       28/ 

boy  the  lion  is  upon  you.  He  is  going  to  overcome  you,  and 
make  you  do  the  wicked  thing  of  striking  back."  But  no.  A 
moment's  struggle,  a  moment's  suspense,  and  our  hero  turns 
about  and  walks  away  with  not  so  much  as  an  angry  word  in  re- 
ply to  his  assailant.  "Thank  God,"  said  I,  "he  has  slain  the 
lion  ;    he  has  got  the  victory  over  his  anger." 

How  often  have  you  felt  the  temptation  to  falsehood  x'lsmg  within 
you,  when  it  seemed  that  something  desirable  might  be  attained  or 
something  disagreeable  avoided  by  deceiving.  Have  you  always 
conquered  it,  or  has  it  many  times  made  you  its  prey  ?  Have  not 
you  sometimes  said  to  yourselves,  "  Oh  it  is  only  a  little  lie.  It  is 
not  so  very  bad  ?  "  It  was  only  a  young  lion  that  came  out  against 
Samson.  But  it  had  teeth,  and  little  lies  have  teeth.  They  bite 
the  conscience  and  devour  the  soul.  The  temptation  to  dishonesty 
is  a  lion  that  has  destroyed  many  a  young  soul.  And  though 
you  think  that  he  could  never  harm  you,  you  cannot  tell  how 
hard  it  might  be  to  slay  him  if  he  should  come  upon  you  suddenly. 
Ilhistration. — Newsboy,  walking  along  the  streets  of  Boston 
and  saying  to  himself,  "  Oh,  how  I  wish  I  was  only  rich ;  then  I 
could  help  my  poor  sick  mother,"  Finds  a  pocket-book  contain- 
ing a  large  sum  of  money,  and  the  owner's  name  and  residence 
marked  upon  it.  His  struggle  with  the  lion  of  dishonesty,  and 
his  final  victory,  etc. 

HI.  The  third  lesson. 

Temptation  overcome^  a  source  of  strength  and  happiness.  "  Out 
of  the  eater  came  forth  meat;  and  out  of  the  strong  came  forth 
sweetness.^'' 

The  strength  which  one  acquires  by  constant  and  successful 
conflict  with  temptation,  illustrated  by  Van  Amburgh's  great 
power,  and  ability  to  handle  his  lions  with  perfect  ease.  The 
sweetness  extracted  from  a  conquered  temptation — the  joy  of  a 
good  conscience,  and  the  sense  of  God's  approval,  which  are 
"  sweeter  than  honey  and  the  honeycomb." 

CONCLUSION. 

How  can  we  successfully  overcome  temptations  ? 

I.    We  must  dispatch  them  vumediately^  as  soon  as  they  appear 


288      THE    children's    PREACHING   SERVICE. 

to  us.  Had  Samson  stopped  long  to  think  about  the  matter,  the 
lion  would  probably  have  killed  him.  If  we  stop  to  reason  with 
sill  it  will  get  tke  better  of  us. 

Illustration. — An  English  gentleman  had  a  tame  young  lion, 
which  seemed  to  have  become  a  lamb  in  gentleness,  and  was  a 
favorite  pet  in  moments  of  leisure. 

One  day  falling  asleep,  his  hand  hung  over  the  side  of  his 
couch.  'The  lion  came  to  his  side,  and  commenced  licking  the 
hand.  Soon  the  file-like  surface  of  the  animal's  tongue  wore  ofl 
the  cuticle  and  brought  blood  to  the  surface.  The  sleeper  was 
disturbed,  and  moved  his  hand,  when  a  savage  growl  startled 
him  from  his  dreaming  half-consciousness,  to  realize  the  terrible 
fact  that  the  pet  luas  a  lion  after  all.  With  great  self-possession, 
with  the  other  hand  he  drew  carefully  from  the  pillow  a  revolver, 
and  shot  his  pet  through  the  head.  It  was  no  trivial  sacrifice  to 
his  feelings,  but  a  moment's  delay  might  have  cost  him  his  life. 

2.  We  nmst  depend  upon  God''s  help,  and  look  to  him  in  prayer 
for  his  assistance  in  resisting  sin.  Samson  slew  the  lion,  not  in 
his  own  strength,  but  because  "the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came 
mightily  upon  him."  We  can  only  overcome  sin  by  the  aid  of 
God's  Spirit,  &c. 


AGAINST    TEMPTATION. 

BY    THE     REV.     R.     T.     ROBINSON, 
Pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church,  Winchester,  Mass. 

•  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation.     Matt.  vi.  13. 

What  is  the  text  a  part  of.?  The  Lord's  Prayer.  How  many 
of  you,  children,  are  accustomed  to  say  the  Lord's  Prayer  every 
morning  and  evening  ?  Hold  up  your  hands.  But  stop  a 
moment.  Let  me  divide  the  question.  How  many  of  you  say 
the  Lords  Prayer  at  night  when  you  go  to  bed?  Nearly  all. 
How  many  remember  to  say  it  in  the  morning  ?  Not  so  many. 
....  If  you  study  the  Lord's  Prayer,  you  will  see  that,  proper  as 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.        289 

it  is  at  all  times,  it  is  better  suited  to  the  morning  than  to  the 
evening.  What  do  we  ask  of  God  in  this  prayer,  for  ourselves 
more  particularly  ?  "  Give  us  "this  day  our  daily  bread."  That 
evidently  was  meant  to  be  said  in  the  morning.  We  ask  for 
daily  bread, — the  bread  we  hope,  to  receive,  and  which  is  needful 
for  us  through  the  day.  So,  too,  we  pray,  "  And  lead  us  not 
into  temptation."  Now  is  not  that  the  prayer  we  should  offer  in 
the  morning  ?  We  go  forth  to  the  duties  or  the  pleasures  of  the 
day,  not  knowing  what  may  happen  to  us,  what  even  an  hour 
may  bring  forth  ;  how  appropriate  and  beautiful  is  it  that  we 
look  up  and  say,  "And  lead  us  not  into  temptation." 

But  this  prayer  should  be  in  our  hearts  and  on  our  lips,  not 
simply  in  the  morning,  but  at  all  times.  We  should  continually 
say,  as  we  go  out,  and  as  we  come  in,  "  Lead  us  not  into  tempta- 
tion."   

In  this  discourse,  I  propose  to  give  two  or  three  reasons  why 
all,  and  children  especially,  should  offer  this  prayer. 

I.  And  first,  because  we  are  so  liable  to  fall  into  temptation. 
Oh,  how  easy  it  is  to  sin  against  God  !  We  live  in  a  sinful 
world.  There  is  sin  all  around  us,  and,  what  is  much  worse, 
there  is  sin  in  our  own  hearts.  You  know  how  easy  it  is  for  the 
brooks  and  rivers  to  run  into  the  sea.  They  cannot  help  it,  we 
say.  Only  let  them  alone  and  they  are  sure  to  find  their  way 
there.  So  there  is  in  our  hearts  a  constant  tendency  or  prone- 
ness  to  that  which  is  wrong.  The  current  of  our  thoughts  and 
actions  sets  in  that  direction.  It  is  "  easy  as  lying  "  has  passed 
into  a  proverb.  You  have  seen  a  horse-shoe  magnet,  perhaps. 
It  is  a  small  bar  of  iron  bent  into  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe,  and 
it  has  this  remarkable  quality,  it  attracts  other  pieces  of  iron 
which  are  brought  near  to  it,  and  holds  them  fast.  Well,  the 
world  is  a  great  magnet,  and  there  is  that  in  our  hearts  which  it 
attracts,  so  that  we  are  all  the  time  inclined  to  do  evil 

All  men  and  women  are  pretty  much  alike  in  this  respect. 

They  are  all  sinners  and  prone  to  sin.     So  is  it  with  you  and 

me.     We  are  "  prone  to  sin,"  the  Bible  says,  "  as  the  sparks  fly 

upward."     You  see  some  men  who  are  very  wicked.      They 

13 


290       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

drink  and  gamble  and  swear.  They  break  the  Sabbath,  and  do 
almost  everything  else  that  God  has  commanded  men  not  to  do. 
You  shrink  from  them.  You  loathe  them,  and  well  you  may. 
You  have  been  in  the  state-prison,  perhaps.  There  are  men 
there  who  have  committed  murder  and  highway  robbery ;  men 
who  have  broken  into  houses  in  the  night  time  ;  men  who  have 
set  buildings  on  fire ;  who  have  forged  notes  and  passed  counter- 
feit money.  And  there  they  are — shut  out  from  all  the  world, 
for  the  crimes  which  they  have  committed.  You  would  not  like 
to  associate  with  such  men.  You  would  think  it  dreadful  if  you 
were  obliged  to  live  with  them.  But  did  you  ever  think  that 
these  men,  steeped  to  the  lips  in  crime,  were  once  little  children 
like  you ;  that  they  had  each  a  father  and  mother,  and  brothers 
and  sisters,  perhaps,  who  loved  them  ?  And  then  they  were 
comparatively  innocent  and  happy.  What  makes  them  to  differ 
from  you  now  ?  Nothing  but  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God, 
which  have  kept  you  thus  far,  when  tempted,  from  open  sin.  If 
God  should  leave  you  to  yourselves,  you  would  become  just  as 
bad  as  they.  The  sweetest  child  might  become  the  most  hard- 
ened and  blood-thirsty  ruffian.  How  much  reason,  then,  have 
you  to  pray  continually,  "  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation." 

II.  Another  reason  why  we  should  offer  the  prayer  of  the  text 
is,  because  one  sin  leads  to  another.  I  said  it  was  easy  to  sin ; 
but  how  much  easier  is  it  to  commit  a  second  sin  when  one  has 
already  been  committed.  Sin  is  like  a  chain.  Each  link  is  con- 
nected with,  and  draws  after  it,  many  others Do  you  know, 

children,  how  the  suspension  bridge  below  Niagara  Falls  was 
built .?  Let  me  tell  you.  It  is  a  light,  airy  structure  to  look  at, 
but  weighs  some  seventy-five  tons.  Over  it,  heavily  loaded  cars 
pass  and  repass  every  day.  How  were  these  huge,  wire  cables, 
each  of  them  as  big  round  as  a  man's  arm,  carried  across  the 
stream .-'  The  span  is  some  seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  The 
height  of  the  bridge  above  the  water  is  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  feet, — higher  than  Bunker  Hill  monument,  higher  than  the 
highest  of  our  church  steeples.  How  deep  the  water  is  below 
has  never  been  ascertained.     The  current  is  so  swift,  and  the 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      29I 

pressure  of  the  water  between  the  banks  so  great,  that  the  lead 
is  thrown  to  the  surface  before  it  reaches  the  bottom.  Now, 
how  were  these  cables  on  which  the  bridge  is  suspended  stretched 
across  this  rushing,  foaming  flood  ?  No  boat  could  cross,  of 
course.  I  will  tell  you  how  it  was  done.  A  boy's  kite  was  sent 
up  on  one  side  of  the  river,  and  carried  by  the  wind  across  to  the 
other.  There  it  was  suffered  to  fall.  To  the  string  of  the  kite 
was  attached  a  cord,  and  to  the  cord  a  rope.  Thus  a  communi- 
cation was  established,  and  a  single  cable  suspended.  On  this 
the  daring  inventor,  in  his  iron  basket,  crossed  and  recrossed, 
until  all  the  wires  were  stretched  from  town  to  town  and  the 
whole  structure  was  complete.  So  a  single  sin,  even  a  small  sin, 
may  draw  after  it  the  most  weighty  consequences.  The  only 
safety  is  in  avoiding,  if  possible,  the  Jirst  sin.     It  is  the  first  false 

step,  in  many  cases,  that  ruins Beware,  then,  children,  of 

the  first  sin,  the  first  oath,  the  first  cigar,  the  first  glass  of  strong 
drink,  the  first  petty  dishonesty.  If  tempted,  resist,  and  call  on 
God  to  help  you  resist.  Say,  "  No  !  I  am  not  going  to  enter 
upon  that  path.  I  know  where  it  leads.  It  leads  down  to 
death."  Never  parley  with  temptation.  What  do  I  mean  by 
parleying  with  temptation  ?  I  mean  stopping  to  consider  whether 
you  will  or  will  not  do  that  which  you  know  to  be  wrong.  You 
are  passing  along  the  road  some  day,  and  you  see  some  very 
tempting  fruit  juSt  over  the  fence.  You  wonder  if  the  owner 
would  miss  a  few  pears  or  a'  few  peaches,  whatever  the  fruit  may 
be.  Don't  stop  to  consider  the  matter.  Run  right  away.  Get 
out  of  sight  of  the  fruit  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  don't  go 
round  that  way  again  till  you  know  it  has  all  been  gathered. 
Remember,  the  sight  of  the  eyes  leads  often  to  the  sin  of  the 
heart,  and  the  sin  of  the  heart  breaks  out  into  the  most  flagrant 
and  high-handed  iniquities.  The  various  steps  in  a  course  of 
crime  have  often  been  detailed.  They  do  not  always  follow  each 
other  in  the  same  order,  but  they  all  lead  to  the  same  result. 
"  Crimes  lead  to  crimes  and  link  so  straight, 
What  first  was  accident,  at  last  is  fate." 

III.  But  there  is  still  another  reason  why  we  should  offer  the 


292        TH^    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

prayer  of  the  text,  "  Lead  us  not  into  temptation,"  and  that  is, 
the  habit  of  sin  once  formed,  it  is  all  but  impossible  to  break  off  from 
it.  Who  can  describe  the  power  of  habit.  "  Can  the  Ethiopian 
change  his  skin  or  the  leopard  his  spots,"  says  the  prophet 
Jeremiah,  "  then  may  ye  also  do  good  that  are  accustomed  to  do 
evil."  I  have  spoken  of  sin  as  a  chain.  It  is  a  chain  that  we 
forge  day  by  day,  little  thinking  to  what  use  it  will  finally  be  put. 
Spurgeon,  in  one  of  his  sermons,  tells  of  a  certain  tyrant  who 
ordered  one  of  his  subjects,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  to  make  him 
a  chain  of  a  given  length.  The  man  made  the  chain  and  brought 
it,  but  was  told  to  go  and  make  it  twice  as  long,  though  he 
received  no  wages  all  the  while  he  was  at  work.  Again  he 
brought  the  chain,  and  again  was  told  to  make  it  twice  as  long  ; 
and  so  on,  until  finally  the  cruel  and  wicked  monarch  said  to  his 
attendants,  "  Take  it,  and  bind  him  hand  and  foot  with  that 
chain,  and  cast  him  into  a  furnace  of  fire."  Who  is  the  tyrant 
in  this  case  that  orders  the  chain  to  be  made  .-'  The  devil !  Yes, 
it  is  the  devil.  And  who  makes  the  chain  .-*  We  make  it.  And 
what  are  the  links  of  the  chain  ?  Our  sins.  Very  good.  Re- 
member, then,  every  time  you  commit  a  sin  you  add  one  more 
link  to  the  chain  which  will  be  used  when  the  King  shall  say  to 
his  servants,  "  Bind  him  hand  and  foot,  and  cast  him  into  outer 
darkness.     There  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth." 

We  sin,  oftentimes,  thoughtlessly.  We  are  so  accustomed  to 
do  that  which  is  wrong,  it  makes  no  impression  upon  our  minds, 
and  we  straightway  forget  all  about  it.  In  this  way  the  habit  of 
sin  is  formed.  We  acquire  a  facility  for  wrong-doing.  It  is  like 
attempting  to  walk  down  a  steep  hill.  Did  you  ever  try  that, 
boys  .<*  You  begin  to  walk  very  slowly ;  but  before  you  are  half 
way  down  you  break  into  a  run,  and  then  there  is  no  such  thing 
as  stopping. 

An  old  stage-driver  lay  dying.  His  brother  "  whips  "  came  in 
to  see  him,  and  asked  how  he  was.  His  reply,  as  he  shook  his 
head,  was,  "  On  the  down  grade,  and  can't  reach  the  brakes." 
You  know  what  the  brakes  are  on  a  railroad  car.  They  stop  the 
train,  if  put  on  while  the  cars  are  in  motion.     You  are  not  so 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        293 

familiar  with  stage-coaches.  But  some  of  you  may  have  been 
up  among  the  mountains,  or  back  in  the  country,  where  stage- 
coaches are  still  used,  and  noticed  the  long  handle,  with  a  little 
step  attached,  on  which  the  driver  puts  his  foot  when  going 
down  a  steep  hill.  That  is  the  brake.  But  what  if  the  driver 
could  not  reach  it  when  the  stage  was  under  full  headway  !  I 
once  crossed  the  Alleghany  mountains,  from  Cumberland  to 
"Wheeling,  in  a  stage-coach.  We  started  just  at  night,  and  rode 
all  night  and  all  the  next  day.  It  was  in  the  month  of  March, 
and  on  the  mountains  it  was  intensely  cold.  I  was  deathly  sick 
inside  the  coach,  and  obliged  to  ride,  cold  and  rough  as  it  was, 
outside  with  the  driver  on  the  box.  He  was  a  drunken,  reckless, 
miserable  fellow  to  have  the  charge  of  so  many  precious  lives, 
for  the  stage  was  full  of  passengers.  The  grades,  ascending  and 
descending,  were  fearful.  It  almost  made  my  heart  stop  beating 
as  I  looked  down  into  the  black  and  seemingly  bottomless  gulfs, 
now  on  this  side,  now  on  that,  into  some  one  of  which  we  must 
have  been  plunged,  horses,  passengers,  and  all,  but  for  the 
action  of  the  brake,  which  the  driver,  drunk  as  he  was,  managed 
with  his  foot.  Without  some  such  experience  as  that,  I  should 
not  have  realized  the  awful  sadness  of  the  remark  I  have  quoted 
— the  remark  of  the  old  stage-driver  as  he  lay  dying,  "  On  the 
down  grade,  and  cari't  reach  the  brakes. ''"'  Yes,  it  is  indeed  fearful, 
when  one  feels  that  he  is  going  swift  to  destruction,  and  yet  has 
no  power  to  stop.  May  God  save  you,  dear  children,  from  any 
such  painful  and  bitter  'experience. 

I  have  thus  given  you  three  reasons  why  you  should  offer  the 
prayer,  daily  and  continually,  "  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation." 
Can  you  remember  and  repeat  them  ?     What  are  they  t 

First,  because  we  are  so  liable  to  fall  into  temptation. 

Secondly,  because  the  commission  of  one  sin  leads  on  to  another. 

And,  lastly,  because  the  habit  of  sin  once  formed,  it  is  all  but  im- 
possible to  break  off  from  it, 

I  have  only  one  thing  more  to  say  in  conclusion.  //  is  no  use 
to  pray,  "  Lead  us  not  into  temptation,^''  atid  then  walk  stj'aight  ijito 
it.     Some  people  do  this — they  pray  to  be  kept  from  sin,  and 


294       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

then  go  where  they  are  almost  sure  to  fall  into  it.  Is  this  con- 
sistent ?  Is  it  right  ?  It  certainly  is  not.  Keep  out  of  the  way 
of  temptation,  then,  children,  while  you  pray  to  be  delivered 
from  it.  Give  it  a  wide  berth,  as  the  sailors  say.  Do  not  go 
where  you  will  be  likely  to  meet  those  who  would  lead  you  into 
sin.  "  Enter  not  into  the  path  of  the  wicked,  and  go  not  in  the 
way  of  evil  men.  Avoid  it,  pass  not  by  it,  turn  from  it  and  pass 
away."  Commit  that  passage  of  Scripture  to  memory,  and  keep 
it  always  in  mind.  Think  of  it  when  you  are  tempted  to  sin. 
**  How  do  you  manage  to  get  out  of  scrapes  ? "  one  boy  said  to 
another.  "  I  never  get  into  them,"  was  the  answer.  That  is  the 
only  way  of  safety.  "  He  that  walketh  uprightly  walketh  surely." 
Lift  up  your  heart  to  God,  and  ask  Him  who  guides  the  stars  in 
their  courses,  and  at  the  same  time  watches  the  sparrow's  fall, 
to  keep  you ;  adding  always  to  your  prayer  for  daily  bread  the 
petition,  "  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation." 


TOTAL    DEPRAVITY. 

BY   THE   REV.   ALFRED   TAYLOR, 
Secretary  of  the  Pennsylvania  S.  S.  Teachers'  Association. 

["  Ca7i  the  blackboard  be  used  to  illustrate  doctrinal  truth  ?  "  is  a 
question  often  asked.  Let  us  try  to  answer  the  question  by  a 
sermon  on  a  subject  which  some  of  us  are  apt  to  omit,  in  the 
instruction  of  our  children.] 

There  is  ?ione  that  doethgood,  no,  not  one.     Psalm  xiv.  3. 

Perhaps  you  would  like  it  a  great  deal  better,  my  dear  boys  and 
girls,  if  I  would  tell  you  that  you  are  all  very  good  and  very 
beautiful,  and  that  you  are  all  so  sure  of  going  to  heaven,  that 
you  need  give  yourselves  no  concern  about  it.  It  would  be  a 
delightful  thing  if  we  could  say  that  we  have  never  sinned.     Is 

there  one  of  you,  here,  that  can  say  that  ?     Not  one Open 

your  Bibles  to  I.  John  i,  8 ;  and  you  find,  "  if  we  say  that  we 
have  no  sin,  we  deceive  ourselves,  and  the  truth  is  not  in  us." 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      295 

I  am  not  only  going  to  tell  you  about  your  wickedness.      I 

want  to  tell  you  about  the  grace  of  God While  I  tell  you 

of  sin  and  ruin,  I  want  to  tell  you,  too,  of  grace  and  salvation. 
We  are  full  of  sin.  But  the  grace  of  God  is  greater  than  our 
sin.  We  are  in  danger  of  being  lost  forever.  But  the  salvation 
offered  us  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  so  rich  and  full  that  it 
takes  hold  of  us,  in  the  depth  of  our  danger,  and  keeps  us  for 
eternal  life. 

When  we  talk  of  our  sinful  nature,  we  use  the  word  "Z)<?- 
pravityy  Let  us  put  that  word  on  the  blackboard,  so  as  to 
remember  it.     There  are  some  people  who  stick  to  it,  that  there  is 

some  little  good  in  them Turn  to  the  fifty-first  Psalm. 

and  let  any  boy  or  girl  who  first  finds  it,  read  the  fifth  verse. 
Quick,  now,  for  time  is  precious  !  There !  you  see  David  had  a 
different  view  of  the  matter.  He  confessed  his  entire  sinfulness, 
his  total  depravity.  Suppose  we  write  that  word  "  Total,^''  on  the 
blackboard.  Now  turn  to  the  account  of  the  Pharisee  and  the 
publican  in  the  eighteenth  chapter  of  Luke.  Read  the  thirteenth 
verse  ;  you,  my  little  man  with  the  bright  eyes.  Very  good,  sir, 
now,  why  was  it  that  the  publican  expected  God  to  hear  him, 
and  save  him  ?  Not  because  he  told  how  good  he  was  ;  but  be- 
cause he  confessed  he  was,  out  and  out,  a  sinner. 

Children,  we  are  all  sinners,  by  nature Not  only  sin- 
ners on  the  outside.  But  through  and  through.  And  we  need 
God's  grace,  through  and  through,  to  cleanse  us.  Let  us  try  to 
see  how. 

Here  is  a  dirty  black  bottle.  What  do  you  think  it  has  had  in 
it  ?     Ink.     Yes,  no  mistake  about  that.     Black  and  dirty  enough, 

is  it  not  ?     Outside  and  inside,  pretty  much  alike Now  let 

us  clean  the  outside  of  it.  Here  is  a  basin  of  water  and  a  towel. 
Rub  hard,  for  the  bottle  is  very  dirty,  and  the  dirt  does  not  come 
off  very  easily.  There  it  goes,  though  ;  now  look  at  the  bottle. 
Clean,  isn't  it .?     What?     Hold  it  up  to  the  light,  and  let  us  see. 

Oh  !  no,  it  isn't  clean  at  all,  when  you  look  through  it 

If  we  want  that  bottle  to  be  clea7i,  we  must  wash  it  inside  and 
outside.     Now  open  your  Bibles  again.     Read  what  Jesus  said 


296      THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

to  the  hypocrites,  in  Matthew  xxiii.  27.  He  told  them  they  were 
like  whited  sepulchres,  very  nice  and  white,  outside  ;  but  inside, 
full  of  uncleanness.  Just  so  with  our  hearts.  We  need  to  have 
them  washed  entirely,  we  are  so  sinful. 

We  can  wash  a  dirty  bottle  with  water.  For  the  cleansing  of 
a  sinful  soul,  we  need  something  else.  Now  let  us  all  open  our 
Bibles,  and  we  will  all  read,  in  concert,  a  very  precious  passage. 
Right  alongside  of  the  first  passage  we  looked  at,  which  told  us 
that  we  are  all  sinners.  (I.  John  i.  7.)  "  The  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  Then,  if  there  is 
something  that  will  clean  away  all  our  sin,  there  is  no  use  of 
trying  to  keep  back  any  of  it  from  God.  We  will  go  to  him  with 
the  whole  guilty  load  of  it,  as  the  publican  did,  and  ask  him  to 
be  merciful  to  us,  and  wash  it  all  away  in  the  blood  of  his  dear 
Son  Jesus  Christ.     And  he  will  do  it,  too 

Let  us  ...  .  note  down  a  few  more  thoughts  about  what  "  total 
depravity  '^  is. 

Turn  to  what  Jeremiah  told  the  Jews,  nearly  twenty-five  hun- 
dred years  ago.  ( Jer.  xvii.  9.)  "  The  heart  of  man  is  deceitful 
above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked."  As  the  human  heart 
is  now  the  same  as  it  was  then,  we  will  put  down  these  two  ideas 
on  the  board.  There  they  are,  ^^ Deceitful,^''  "  Wicked.''''  .... 
Read  the  eighteenth  verse  of  the  first  chapter  of  Isaiah.  Oh ! 
what  a  horrible  condition  the  human  heart  is  in,  if  it  is  like  that ! 
Let  us  put  down  one  word  which  will  express  it.  What  was  the 
matter  with  the  ink  bottle  we  had,  a  while  ago  ?  Unclean,  was 
it  not  ?  Well,  we  will  use  that  word.  Now  we  have  it  on  the 
board.  What  then,  are  we,  when  we  are  "totally  depraved .''" 
We  are  *'  deceitful,"  "  wicked,"  and  "  unclean," 

But  there  is  one  strange  thing  about  this  depravity.     People 

think  themselves  so  good Now  let  us  see  what  Paul,  who 

knew  all  about  it,  said  to  the  Romans.  (Rom.  vii.  17,  18.)  First 
he  says  "sin  dwelleth  in  me."  Then  he  goes  on  to  say,  not  how 
good  he  was,  but  "  I  know  that  in  me  dwelleth  no  good  thing." 
We  will  put  that  idea  on  the  board.     "  Nothing  Good.^''  .... 

Now  turn  to  Paul's  letter  to  the  Ephesians,  and  we  find 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        297 

that  when  we  were  (chap.  ii.  i)  "■  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,"  we 
were  (v.  12)  "strangers  from  the  covenants  of  promise,  having 
no  hope,  and  without  God  in  the  world."  Let  us  put  that  idea 
all  in  one  word,  as  far  as  we  can.  '■'■Helpless.''''  We  might  say 
"hopeless  ;"  but  when  we  read  (v.  13)  about  how  we  are  "brought 
nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ,"  it  does  not  look  as  if  we  are  with- 
out hope,  by  a  great  deal 

Now  we  have  bad  things  enough  to  look  at,  have  we  not  t 
Isn't  there  a  bright  side  to  it  ?  Yes,  thank  God  !  a  glorious, 
beautiful,  bright  side  it  is,  too  ! 

(Here  is  the  way  our  blackboard  looks,  thus  far) 


Total       Depravity 
Deceitful  Wicked  Unclean 

Nothing  Good 
Helpless 


Now  for  the  bright  side Turn  to  Isaiah  xlv.  22,  and 

read  it.  "  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth  !  "  Unto  whom  ?  "  I  am  God,  and  there  is  none  else  !  " 
"saved."  We  will  put  that  down,  for  we  need  to  be  saved. 
Saved  through  Jesus,  are  we  not  ?  Yes,  for  when  we  turn  to 
Peter's  echo  of  Isaiah,  we  read,  (Acts  iv.  12)  "there  is  none 
other  name  under  heaven,  whereby  we  may  be  saved."  So  we 
write,  "Through  Jesus  Christ." 

If  we  are  deceitfully  wicked,  if  our  poor  hearts  are  all  unclean 
with  sin,  we  certainly  cannot  trust  to  our  own  righteousness. 
But  there  Jesus  comes  to  help  us.  His  righteousness  is  our  plea, 
as  we  go  before  God  our  Father.     His  merit  is  our  dependence. 


2gS    THE  children's  preaching  service. 


"meri^"  is  a  more  convenient  word  than  righteousness^  so  we 
will  write  on  the  board,  "Jesus'  merit." 

"Nothing  good"  in  myself?  Then  some  one  else  must  pay 
the  price  of  my  pardon.  Open  your  Bibles  again.  Paul  writes 
to  Timothy,  (I.  Tim.  ii.  5,  6,)  that  "the  man  Christ  Jesus  gave 
himself  a  ransom  for  all."  "  Ransomed,"  then,  let  us  write. 
And  what  is  the  price  of  our  ransom  ?  "  Ye  are  bought  with  a 
price,'  says  Paul,  (I.  Cor.  vi.  20,)  and  Peter  follows  it  up  by 
saying,  (I.  Peter  i.  19,)  that  the  price  paid  is  "the  precious  blood 
of  Christ."  Our  "Saviour's  Blood"  we  may  write  down  as 
the  price  paid  for  our  rescue  from  everlasting  ruin. 

But  just  another  thought,  before  we  stop.     We  have  said  we 

are  '•'  helpless. ''''     Then  we  need  help We  need  mercy  and  • 

pardon.     What  better  can  we  do  than  as  the  publican  did.-*     Let 

us  come  to  God  and  ask  his  mercy We  have  for  a  Saviour 

one  who  is  indeed  "  mighty  to  save."     With  the  publican,  we 
will  pray, 

"  O  God,  be  meRciful  to  me  ! " 

Now  let  us  look  at  our  blackboard,  and  see  how  beautifully 
the  bright  things  of  God's  word  lighten  up  the  dark  things  of 
our  sinful  nature. 


Total 

Depravity 

THROUGH  JESUS 

CHRIST 

SAVED 

Deceitful  Wicked           Unclean 

JESUS'  MERIT 

Nothing  Good 

RANSOMED 

SAVIOUR'S  BLOOD       || 

Helpless 

0  GOD,  BE  MERCIFUL  TO  ME  ! 

There  we  have  the  leading  thoughts  of   our  little  sermon. 
How  shall  we  further  impress  them  on  our  minds .?....  We 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        299 

will  sijig  them.  What!  sing  ^^ total  depravity?''''  Yes.  Or, 
rather,  we  will  sing  the  grace  of  God,  that  rescues  us  from  it. 
Sing  away,  then,  children.  But  first  let  us  fill  up  the  gaps,  so 
that  it  will  sing. 

How  is  it,  when  we  are  "  totally  depraved .'' "  Is  it  in  a  state 
of  nature,  or  a  state  of  grace  ?  "  Nature  .'' "  Yes.  Then  we 
will  make  the  first  line  read  : 

"  By  nature,  totally  depraved.'''' 

But  what  kind  of  a  salvation  is  it  that  Jesus  works  out  for  us  ? 
It  is  no  half  way  work.     He  does  not  partly  save  us,  and  then 

leave  us  to  ourselves No  ;  open  your  Bibles  again  ;  (for  if 

we  cannot  find  it  in  God's  word,  there  is  no  use  of  talking  about 
it).  Paul  tells  us,  (Col.  ii.  10,)  "Ye  are  complete  in  him." 
Then  our  salvation  is  a  full  salvation ;  and  we  will  make  our 
second  line  read : 

"  Through  Jesus  Christ  Pm  fully  saved.'''' 

The  next  line  we  have  all  ready  to  sing,  and  we  will  go  on,  to 
see  just  where  the  righteousness  of  Christ  comes  in  to  help  us. 
It  is  our  sole  dependence.  We  can  put  our  whole  trust  in  it. 
Then  we  will  sing  : 

"  On  Jesus''  merit,  let  me  leany 

"  Nothing  good  ? "  Where  .-*  In  my  own  sinful  heart.  But 
the  goodness  of  my  Saviour,  and  the  worth  of  his  precious  blood, 
are  all  sufficient.     Therefore, 

"  Though  in  myself  there'' s  nothing  good, 
Fm  ransomed  by  my  Savioiir^s  blood^ 
And  now  we  see  our  way  right  to  the  cross  of  Jesus.     Help- 
less, in  ourselves,  to  whom  shall  we  look  for  the  help  we  need  ? 
"I  have  laid  help  on  one  that  is  mighty  to  save."     Therefore, 
"  Helpless,  myself,  I  look  to  Thee. 
0  God,  be  mercifil  to  vie  I 

And  now,  with  glad  hearts  and  full  voices,  let  us  sing  it 

And  let  us  praise  God  that  though  we  are  so  full  of  sin,  his  grace 
can  reach  us,  his  blood  can  cleanse  us,  his  spirit  can  make  us 


300       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

holy,  till,  through  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  we  shall  be  ad- 
mitted to  reign  with  him  in  everlasting  glory. 


There  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one.''^     Psalm  xiv.  3. 


By  nature  Totally  Depraved, 

THROUGH  JESUS  CHRIST  Pm  fully  SAVED. 
Deceitful,  Wicked,  and  UncleaUf 

On  JESUS'  MERIT  let  me  lean. 

Thotigh  in  myself  there's  Nothing   Goodf 

Fm  RANSOMED  with  my  SAVIOUR'S  BLOOD. 

Helpless,  myself  I  look  to  Thee ;— 

O  GOD,  BE  MERCIFUL  TO  ME  ! 


A    CHILDREN    S    SERVICE. 

BY  THE  REV.  J.  H.  VINCENT, 

Editor  of  the  Sunday  School  Journal,  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

The  following  ticket  having  been  issued  a  week  or  two  in  ad- 
vance, my  congregation  was  large,  carefully  seated  and  generally 
supplied  with  Bibles,  blank-books  and  pencils. 


Rev.  J. 

H.  VINCENT'S 

L 

E  C 

T 

U    R 

E 

TO    SUNDAY 

SCHOOL  SCHOLARS. 

ADMIT     THE 

BEARER. 

THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        3OI 
OPPOSITE    SIDE, 


My  Dear  Friend: 

This  ticket  is  forwarded  to  you  with  the  expecta- 
tion that  you  will  attend  the  lecture,  be  present  in 
time,  and  behave  with  propriety. 
Please  bring  with  you  a  Bible,  a  small  blank-book, 
or  sheet  of  paper  and  a  lead  pencil.  Copy  all  that 
is  placed  on  the  blackboard. 
Yours  truly, 

J.  H.  VINCENT. 


After  a  brief  opening  service,  I  placed  my  text  on  the  blackboard : 

M.  H.  P.  S.  P.  L.  L.  S. 

Attention  was  fixed,  and  curiosity  excited.  I  drew  a  rough 
outline  of  Egypt  and  the  Sinaitic  peninsula,  on  the  board,  indi- 
cating the  situation  of  Zoan,  Memphis,  Suez,  Sinai,  and  the  Red 
and  Dead  Seas.     This  occupied  less  than  three  minutes. 


302      THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

Calling  upon  all  who  had  Bibles  to  hold  them  up  as  high  as  pos- 
sible, the  "  Swords  of  the  Spirit,"  in  the  uplifted  hands  of  the  chil- 
dren and  youth,  furnished  an  opportunity  for  alluding  to  the  use 
of  Bibles  in  the  public  congregation. 

The  following  scripture  was  read  by  the  children :  Exod.  ii. 
5-10,  and  the  first  three  letters  of  the  text  found  to  stand  for 
Moses  the  Hebrew  Prince.  We  then  read  in  concert  Exod.  ii. 
15-21,  about  the  Shepherd;  Exod.  v.  1-9  about  the  Prophet; 
Exod.  xiii,  17-22,  about  the  Leader;  Exod.  xix.  16-25,  xx.  1-21, 
(we  read  only  parts  of  this)  about  the  Lawgiver ;  and  Deut. 
xxxiv.  5-8  and  Matt.  xvii.  1-5  about  the  Saint.  The  initials 
were  arranged  differently  on  the  other  side  of  the  board;  the 
above-named  titles  spelled  out,  and  I  offered  some  remarks  upon 
some  of  the  features  of  Moses'  character,  adding  the  descriptive 
terms  as  I  went  on,  until  the  board  presented  the  following 
arrangement : 


MoTks  P 

HUMBLE  T 

EBREW  -L/ 


ERSEVERING 

ROPHET 


ABORIOUS 

EADER 


PIOUS  T 

RINCE  J^ 

SELF-SACRIFICING  OiNC] 

HEPHERD  Oak 


OVING 

AWGIVER 


INCERE 

A I  NT 

This  was  read  over  as  a  sort  of  historic  statement  by  the  con- 
gregation. The  words  were  gradually  erased,  until  the  lesson 
was  transferred  from  the  board  to  the  minds  of  the  scholars.  I 
closed  with  an  anecdote  illustrating  faith  in  God,  and  called 
attention  to  the  fact  stated  by  Paul  concerning  Moses  (placing  it 
on  the  board): 

HE   ENDURED   AS   SEEING   HIM   WHO    IS    INVISIBLE. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.       303 
TASTING    god's     GOODNESS. 

BY  THE   REV.    H.    D.    GANSE, 
Pastor  of  the  North-west  Reformed  Church,  New  York. 
Oh,  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  ^ood.     Psalms  xxxiv.  8. 


This  Psalm  was  written  by  King  David.  If_  you  read  it 
through,  you  will  see  that  it  speaks  of  great  fears  and  troubles 
in  which  David  had  been.  But  it  also  tells  how  God  had 
*'  delivered  him  out  of  them  all."  Now,  in  this  verse,  David 
takes  it  for  granted  that  other  persons  have  their  fears  and 
troubles  too ;  and  he  is  trying  to  persuade  them  to  do  just  as  he 
had  done ;  that  is,  to  go  to  God  for  help.  These  words  were 
written  very  long  ago — long  before  Christ  was  born;  long  before 
Daniel  or  Isaiah  was  born.  It  is  nearly  three  thousand  years 
since  they  were  written.  And  I  cannot  tell  you  what  multitudes 
of  people  from  that  time  to  this  have  been  hearing  and  obeying 
them.  Now  it  is  your  turn  to  obey  them,  dear  children ;  and 
David  is  saying  to  you,  "  Oh,  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is 
good." 

Let  us  all  look  carefully  at  this  text,  then,  and  see  what  it 
means.  It  is  speaking  about  something  which  David  had  tasted 
and  seen  for  himself,  and  which  he  wished  other  people  to  taste 
and  see  for  themselves. 

I.  What  tuas  it  that  David  had  "  tasted  and  seen  ?  "  Let  us  see 
whether  it  is  worth  our  while  to  taste  it  too.  He  had  tasted  and 
seen  "  that  the  Lord  is  goody 

But  does  not  everybody  know  that  ?  Yes,  we  know  it  partly ; 
we  know  it  because  the  Bible  says  so  ;  and  we  know  it  by  God's 
kind  acts  toward  us  and  toward  others.  It  is  God  that  makes 
the  sun  to  shine,  and  the  rain  to  fall.  God  gives  us  food  and 
friends.  Were  you  ever  sick .''  and  was  it  not  God  who  made 
you  well }  There  would  be  no  happiness  in  the  world  if  God 
did  not  give  it ;  no,  nor  in  heaven,  either.  God's  goodness  is 
like  the  sun;  all  the  light  comes  from  it. 


304    THE  children's  preaching  service. 

But  David  meant  a  great  deal  more  than  that.  Hear  the 
whole  verse.  "  Oh,  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good.  Blessed 
is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  him."  No  one  can  know  how  good 
God  is  until  he  trusts  in  him.  Suppose  one  of  your  school- 
fellows should  say  to  you,  "  Your  mother  is  good."  "  Yes," 
you  would  say,  "  she  is  good;  she  is  a  great  deal  better  than  j^« 
know.  If  you  were  her  child,  and  she  took  care  of  you  and 
tended  you  as  she  tended  me  when  I  was  sick,  then  you'd  know 
how  good  she  is."  Just  so  one  must  be  God's  child,  or  he  can- 
not know  how  good  he  is.  The  greatest  part  of  God's  goodness 
most  men  do  not  understand  at  all.  He  gave  his  dear  Son  to 
die  to  save  them.  They  do  not  care  about  that.  He  has  given 
the  Holy  Ghost  to  change  their  wicked  hearts  and  make  them 
holy.     They  do  not  care  about  that. 

But  some  people  do.  When  the  Saviour  promises  to  wash 
away  all  their  sins,  and  to  give  them  new  hearts,  they  thank  him 
and  believe  him,  and  try  to  serve  him  ;  and  then  God,  for  Jesus' 
sake,  becomes  their  Father.  They  cannot  see  him,  indeed,  as 
we  see  our  parents ;  but  they  can  see  him  with  their  souls, — I 
mean  God  makes  them  sure  that  he  is  with  them  and  loves 
them.  They  know  that  they  have  done  many  things  that  are 
wrong,  but  God  makes  them  feel  that  he  has  forgiven  them. 
They  know  that  they  are  very  weak,  and  in  great  dafiger  of 
doing  wrong  again.  But  God  promises  to  help  them  to  do  rights 
and  to  do  good;  and  he  does  help  them.  They  may  have 
troubles  ;  but  God  comforts  them,  and  makes  them  know  that  he 
loves  them  now,  and  that  by-and-by  he  will  take  them  where 
their  troubles  will  all  be  over.  So  these  Christians  live  with 
God  every  daj'',  almost  as  you  live  with  your  father  and  mother ; 
and  they  feel  sure  that  they  will  live  with  him  and  Jesus  forever 
in  heaven.  Is  not  that  enough  to  make  any  one  happy  ?  There 
are  thousands  of  people  happy  in  that  way  all  around  you ;  and 
that  is  the  happiness  or  blessedness  which  this  verse  speaks  of. 
"  Blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  him,"  That  means,  "  Very, 
very  happy  and  safe  is  every  man  that  has  God  for  his  father, 
and  feels  toward  him  and  obeys  him  like  a  loving  child.     David 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        305 

knew  all  about  such  happiness  as  this  ;  and  it  was  in  that  way 
that  he  tasted  that  the  Lord  is  good. 

Oh,  how  foolish  those  people  are  who  do  not  try  to  know  all 
about  God's  goodness.  I  have  seen  poor  boys  in  the  street  pick 
up  pieces  of  orange  peel  and  eat  them.  But  what  would  you 
think  of  a  boy  who  with  a  whole  orange  in  his  hand,  would  eat 
the  skin  and  throw  all  the  rest  away.  How  could  you  help  say- 
ing, "  Why  don't  you  eat  the  best  ?  "  Now  there  are  thousands 
of  people  who  never  try  to  get  the  best  part  of  God's  goodness. 
They  try  to  have  a  good  home,  and  health,  and  riches,  and  good 
clothes,  and  good  food.  But  what  are  such  things  when  you 
compare  them  with  peace  in  your  heart ;  with  knowing  that  God 
loves  you ;  with  the  pleasure  of  working  with  Christ  in  doing 
good ;  and  with  the  sure  hope  of  heaven.  Let  us  get  the  best 
fart  of  God's  love,  children.  That  is  the  only  part  that  will  last. 
For  unless  we  become  God's  children,  the  more  kindness  he 
shows  us,  the  more  will  he  punish  us  for  insulting  his  kindness. 
All  this  will  help  us  to  understand — 

IL  The  next  thing  we  see  in  this  text ;  and  that  is  the  anxiety 
which  David  felt  that  everybody  else  should  know  as  much  about 
God's  goodness  as  he  did.  For  he  said,  not  to  one  man,  nor  to 
a  few  men,  but  to  every  body  that  should  ever  hear  his  words, 
*'  Oh,  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good."  Do  you  wonder  that 
he  cared  so  much  about  other  people's  happiness  ?  He  would 
not  have  been  a  good  man  if  he  had  cared  any  less. 

There  is  a  story  in^he  book  of  Genesis  about  a  poor  woman 
who  was  driven  out  with  her  child,  into  the  desert,  where  they 
were  almost  dying  with  thirst.  But  God  sent  an  angel  to  show 
her  a  spring.  Do  you  think  she  went  and  drank  the  water  her- 
self, and  gave  none  to  her  child  .?  No :  but  as  soon  as  she  came 
where  the  water  was,  she  filled  a  bottle  with  it,  and  carried  it 
back  to  her  boy.  No  wonder  that  Hagar  did  this  to  Ishmaei, 
for  he  was  her  own  child.  But  what  if  she  had  never  seen  him 
before,  and  yet  knew  that  he  was  there  and  was  dying  for  water, 
could  she  help  telling  him  where  it  could  be  found  ? 

When  the  wicked  Israelites  had  been  bitten  by  the  fiery  ser- 


3o6     THE  children's  preaching  service. 

pents,  and  were  suffering  and  dying  all  through  the  camp,  you 
know  God  commanded  Moses  to  lift  up  the  image  of  a  serpent, 
and  promised  to  heal  all  those  who  would  look  at  it.  Suppose 
one  of  the  wounded  men  had  looked  at  it,  and  been  healed. 
Then  he  would  leap  up  from  the  ground  all  strong  and  glad. 
Suppose  then  that  he  saw  lying  right  before  him  a  poor  stranger 
out  of  another  tribe  atmost  dead,  and  with  his  face  turned  away 
from  the  serpent  on  the  pole,  what  would  he  do  ?  He  would  ten- 
derly take  that  dying  man's  head  in  both  of  his  hands  ;  he  would 
turn  it  toward  the  brazen  serpent ;  he  would  point  right  at  it  and 
say  "  See  there !  see  there !  Look  at  that !  It  will  cure  you."  That 
is  the  way  real  kindness  always  does.  When  we  have  anything 
that  makes  us  really  happy,  if  we  are  kind,  we  cannot  keep  it  to 
ourselves.  It  makes  us  all  the  happier  when  some  one  else  who 
needs  it  has  a  part  of  it.  And  that  is  the  reason  why  David 
wrote  this  text.  He  had  found  something  better  than  water,  bet- 
ter than  health ;  he  had  found  God's  goodness.  Why  should  he 
enjoy  that  goodness  all  alone  "i  He  could  not.  He  coidd  not 
keep  it  all  for  himself,  even  if  he  tried.  The  goodness  of  God  is 
like  the  ocean.  David  and  Isaiah  and  Paul  and  John  and  all  the 
saints  that  ever  lived  could  have  it  for  themselves  ;  and  yet  there 
would  be  enough  for  you  and  for  me  and  for  all  the  world  besides. 
All  Christians  know  this,  and  it  makes  them  glad  to  know  it ; 
and  so  they  all  join  with  David  in  begging  us  to  "  taste  and  see 
that  the  Lord  is  good."  Did  you  ever  think  of  that .?  There  is 
not  a  Christian  on  earth  that  does  not  v^'v^you  to  be  a  Christian. 
Some  of  them,  like  your  mother  and  your  Sunday-school  teachers, 
have  told  you  so  ;  and  you  know  that  they  often  speak  your  name 
to  God,  and  pray  that  he  would  teach  you  to  love  him.  But 
there  are  thousands  and  thousands  of  Christians  who  do  not 
know  you  ;  and  yet  if  they  could  know  that  there  was  just  such 
a  boy  or  girl  as  you,  there  is  not  one  of  them  that  would  not  wish 
with  all  his  heart  that  you  might  be  a  Christian.  Now  listen 
and  it  almost  seems  as  if  from  this  church,  and  from  every  church, 
and  from  every  country,  yes,  and  from  heaven,  too,  all  the  blessed, 
happy  people  that  love  God  were  saying  to  you,  "  Oh  ta^te  and 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        307 

see  that  the  Lord  is  good.  We  have  tried  it,  and  we  know.  Oh 
taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  goody 

Now,  when  they  say  this  to  you,  they  show  you — 

III.  The  way  in  which  any  one  can  get  this  goodness  for  him- 
self.    It  is  by  tasting  it. 

Let  us  see,  then,  what  we  do  when  we  taste  anything.  Sup- 
pose you  wish  to  taste  an  orange  or  a  peach,  can  you  do  it  by 
hearing  about  it,  or  by  feeling  of  it,  or  by  looking  at  it .?  You 
put  it  in  your  mouth,  and  you  eat  it.  You  may  call  the  orange 
yours,  while  you  only  have  it  in  your  hand.  But  when  you,  eat 
it — then,  I  guess,  it's  yours  in  earnest.  Now  David  speaks  here 
as  though  we  could  almost  take  God's  goodness  into  our  lips 
and  taste  it.  Of  course  we  can't  do  that ;  but  we  can  take  it 
into  our  hearts,  and  taste  it  there.  When  a  mother  has  been 
away  all  day,  and  comes  home  in  the  evening  and  takes  up  her 
little  boy  in  her  lap,  and  puts  her  arms  around  him,  and  presses 
him  close  to  her,  does  not  the  little  child  like  that }  doesn't  he 
feel  his  happiness,  as  much  as  if  he  really  could  taste  it  with  his 
lips  .''  Now  we  see  what  this  text  means.  It  is  that  we  can't 
know  anything  about  the  best  part  of  God's  goodness  unless  we 
take  it  right  into  our  hearts  as  a  little  child  does  its  mother's 
love.  He  does  not  only  think  about  it,  and  wish  for  it,  and  talk 
about  it,  but  he  just  has  it.  He  loves  his  mother,  and  she  loves 
him.  So  when  we  are  Christians,  we  love  God  and  he  loves  us, 
and  we  take  his  love  into  our  hearts  and  taste  it. 

But,  now,  is  not  that  something  very  hard  to  do  !  No ;  for  if 
it  was,  the  Bible  would  not  call  it  tasting.  Tasting  isn't  hard. 
For,  see  : 

If  I  ask  you  to  taste  anything,  it  must  be  right  by  you.  While 
we  are  here  in  the  church  to-day,  there  are  bananas  and  cocoa- 
nuts  growing  in  the  West  Indies ;  and  there  are  some  bright  red 
apples  still  hanging  on  the  trees  in  the  country.  What  if  I 
should  ask  you  to  taste  thein  ?  How  could  you }  But  if  I 
brought  an  apple  or  banana  in  my  hand,  and  gave  it  to  you  and 
said,  "  taste  it,"  then  I'm  sure  it  would  be  easy  for  you  to  do  it. 
Now  you  see  again  what  this  text  means.     It  means  that  God 


3o8    THE  children's  preaching  service. 

and  his  goodness  are  not  a  great  way  off;  so  that  you  will  have 
to  go  to  them,  or  to  wait  till  they  come  to  you.  If  it  were 
not  for  the  blessed  Saviour,  they  would  be  far  away — so  far 
that  we  could  never  reach  them.  But  Christ  has  brought 
salvation  to  us.  And  now  God  is  here ;  his  love  is  here  ;  Jesus 
is  here  ;  his  Holy  Spirit  is  here — just  as  near  to  you  as  your 
bread  is  when  you  sit  down  at  the  table ;  nearer,  too,  for  you 
have  to  take  your  bread  and  lift  it  to  your  lips.  But  God 
comes  right  home  to  your  heart.  His  Spirit  is  now  in  your 
bosom,  urging  you  to  love  God  and  to  give  yourself  to  Christ. 
And  it  is  because  this  goodness  of  God  is  so  near  you  that  we 
ask  you  to  taste  it. 

But  this  text  means  still  more  than  that.  For  God's  goodness 
might  be  very  near,  and  yet  it  might  not  be  for  you.  I  might 
bring  you  some  delicious  fruit,  and  ask  you  to  pay  me  for  it 
before  you  touched  it.  Then  what  if  you  had  no  money  ?  What 
good  would  the  fruit  do  you  ?  Or  I  might  bring  you  fruit  all 
sealed  up  in  a  thick  tough  husk,  that  you  could  not  tear  open. 
How  could  you  taste  that  ?  But  if  I  bring  you  a  bunch  of  ripe 
grapes,  and  hold  them  right  against  your  lips,  and  say,  "  There, 
taste  them,"  then  you  have  nothing  to  pay,  and  nothing  to  do, 
but  only  to  eat  them.  Would  not  that  be  the  simplest  and 
easiest  thing  in  the  world  ?  It  would  indeed,  because  you  would 
be  sure  to  like  them.  So  when  this  text  bids  you  to  taste  of 
God's  goodness,  it  means  not  only  that  his  goodness  is  near,  but 
that  it  is  all  iox  you^  and  that  you  may  have  it  this  moment  if  you 
only  want  it. 

Now  you  hardly  believe  this ;  but  you  think  you  must  do 
something  to  pay  for  God's  goodness,  or  to  earn  it  before  you 
can  have  it.  How  can  you  pay  him  for  it.  Do  you  pay  God  for 
the  sun  and  the  light,  before  you  use  it  to  walk  by  }  Do  you  pay 
God  for  water,  before  you  drink  it  ?  Do  you  pay  your  father 
and  mother  for  your  clothes  before  you  wear  them  .'  They^'7/^ 
them  to  you.  And  God  gives  us  pardon,  and  gives  us  a  new 
heart,  and  gives  us  his  love.  We  never  can  deserve  these 
things.     Jesus  deserves  them  for  us,  and  brings  them  to  uSi 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      309 

And  so  they  are  all  here,  and  ready;  and  any  one  may  have 
them  that  wants  them. 

Ah  !  there  is  all  the  difficulty.  Can  I  get  you  to  taste  what 
you  don't  like  ?  And  would  you  really  like  to  have  a  new  heart, 
that  will  love  God,  and  do  everything  to  please  him, — a  heart 
willing  to  take  trouble  to  do  right,  and  unwilling  to  do  wrong 
even  when  it  is  very  pleasant  ?  Do  you  wish  to  begin  right 
away  to  be  God's  child,  and  never  to  leave  him  or  to  offend  him 
again  ?  What  do  you  say  to  that  question  ?  Some  of  you  sa}^, 
"  I  am  not  sure  that  I  want  that  now.  I  don't  think  I  do." 
Well,  that  is  the  whole  reason  why  you  do  not  taste  God's  good- 
ness. For  I  tell  you  again  it  is  all  here,  and  all  ready,  and  ready 
for  you,  but  you  will  not  have  it. 

But  some  of  you,  I  hope,  are  ready  to  say,  "  Oh  !  yes,  that  is 
just  what  I  want.  I  want  to  be  forgiven,  and  I  want  to  be  a 
Christian.  I  wish  God  to  be  my  Father,  and  to  make  me  his 
holy,  happy  child.  I  am  willing  to  obey  him  now,  and  to  believe 
him,  and  to  love  him  now,  if  he  only  will  take  me." — He  wi/l 
take  you.  He  does  take  you.  All  the  world  could  not  persuade 
him  not  to  love  you,  if  you  really  wish  to  love  him.  Believe  it, 
and  be  sure  of  it.  Don't  stop  and  wonder  whether  that  can  be 
so.  Believe  that  God,  for  Jesus'  sake,  loves  you,  and  pardons 
you,  and  will  keep  you  ;  and  acl  as  though  you  believed  it.  Go 
right  on  and  do  right,  to  please  him ;  and  be  sure  that  it  does 
please  him.  When  you  do  wrong,  be  sorry  for  it,  and  ask  God, 
for  Jesus'  sake,  to  forgive  you ;  and  try  to  do  better.  And  do 
all  that,  not  to  ma^e  God  love  you ;  but  because  you  know  he 
does  love  you.  Are  you  almost  determined  to  do  so  ?  Then,  it 
is  the  Holy  Spirit  that  is  helping  you.  Now  let  him  lead  you 
right  on  ;  and  say  in  your  heart,  "  I  take  God  for  my  Father  and 
Jesus  for  my  Saviour,  now." 

And  that  is  the  way  to  "  taste  and  to  see  that  the  Lord  is 
good." 

If  you  do  this  you  will  never  be  sorry  for  it.  But  you  will  have 
more  and  more  comfort  the  longer  you  live.  For  notice  once 
more  what  this  text  says.     If  you  "  taste  "  you  will  "  see  " — you 


310     THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING   SERVICE. 

will  know  and  be  sure — "  that  the  Lord  is  good."  The  best  way 
to  find  out  about  anything  is  to  try  it ;  and  if  it  is  very  good  you 
will  know  about  it  right  away.  We  often  speak  about  "  milk  and 
honey."  They  are  both  good  and  both  sweet.  Yet  if  you  tasted 
only  a  drop  of  milk,  you  could  hardly  tell  it  from  a  drop  of  wa- 
ter. But  if  you  tasted  a  drop  of  honey,  could  you  think  tAai  was 
water  ?  So  there  are  many  things  which  we  expect  to  make  us 
happy.  Yet  they  do  not  make  us  very  happy  after  all.  But  if 
we  taste  of  God's  goodness,  and  know  that  he  loves  us,  there  is 
nothing  else  like  that.  When  he  says  to  you,  "  Thy  sins  are  for- 
given thee  ;  "  isn't  iha.t£ood?  When  he  helps  you  do  right,  and 
promises  "  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee,"  isn't  that 
good  ?  When  he  makes  you  a  comfort  to  your  friends,  and  shows 
you  how  to  lead  others  to  the  Saviour  ;  isn't  that  good  ?  Never 
think  that  if  you  become  a  Christian  you  will  have  a  gloomy  life 
here,  and  have  to  wait  and  make  up  for  it  in  heaven.  A  man 
who  loves  God  cannot  be  unhappy ;  and  the  more  he  loves  him 
the  happier  he  will  be.  So  as  long  as  you  live  you  will  still  be 
"  tasting  and  seeing  that  the  Lord  is  good." 

Yet  there  is  a  great  difference  between  tasting  and  feasting, 
God  will  let  you  taste  of  his  goodness  even  here  on  earth.  But 
he  will  give  you  a  feast  of  his  goodness  forever  in  heaven. 

Now,  my  dear  children,  do  you  know  what  I  have  been  preach- 
ing to  you  !  It  is  this  :  That  all  those  who  have  tasted  the  love  of 
God  and  of  Christ  know  that  it  is  better  than  all  the  world  beside, 
and  that  no  one  can  be  saved  without  it ;  that  we  all  wish  you  to 
have  it  and  be  happy  with  it ;  that  we  know  it  is  near  you,  and 
ready  for  you,  and  that  if  you  really  wish  for  it  you  can  have  it 
to-day — this  moment — and  forever. 

But  do  not  think  that  we  say  this  of  ourselves.  David  spoke 
in  this  text  only  what  God  taught  him  to  speak.  It  is  God,  then, 
who  loves  you  ten  thousand  times  more  than  we  can — it  is  Christ 
who  died  on  the  cross  to  save  you,  who  now  offers  to  you  his  own 
precious  love  and  entreats  you  ;  "  Oh  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord 
is  good." 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      3II 


THE     YOUNG     FOLLOWER     OF     CHRIST. 

BY  THE  REV.  F.  D.  HUNTINGTON,  D.D., 
Rector  of  Emmanuel  (Episcopal)  Church,  Boston, 

Without  forgetting  the  rest  of  my  congregation,  I  mean  to 
speak  this  afternoon  especially  to  the  younger  part  of  it — not  to 
the  very  youngest,  perhaps,  but  to  those  that  are  old  enough  to 
follow  along  through  a  sermon  and  attend  to  it. 

We  will  have  for  our  text — the  first  part  of  the  fifth  chapter  of 
St.  Paul's  epistle  sent  to  the  Ephesians, — that  is,  to  the  Chris- 
tians of  his  day  who  lived  at  Ephesus,  a  city  in  Asia.  The 
Apostle's  words  are  these  : 

"  Be  ye,  therefore,  followers  of  God,  as  dear  children,  and  walk 
in  lave,  as  Christ  also  hath  loved  us,  and  hath  given  himself 
for  us y 

What  is  the  first  thing  to  be  thought  of  when  you  hear  these 
words  ?  It  is  the  word  '*  therefore  :"  "  Be  ye,  therefore,  followers 
of  God."  When  any  one  says  or  writes  "  therefore,"  it  shows 
that  something  goes  before,  and  that,  to  understand  it,  you  ought 
to  go  back  and  look  at  that.  So,  looking  back  to  what  goes  just 
before  this  text,  we  find  it  is  this  ; 

"  Let  all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  anger,  and  clamor,  and 
evil-speaking,  be  put  away  from  you,  with  all  malice  :  And  be  ye 
kind  one  to  another,  tender-hearted,  forgiving  one  another,  even 
as  God  for  Christ's  sake  hath  forgiven  you." 

Everybody  can  understand  that Those  Ephesians  quar- 
reled ;  and  so  do  men  and  nations  still.  Whenever  you  have 
asked  God  in  your  prayers,  here  at  church,  or  in  your  chamber, 
to  forgive  your  sins,  and  have  felt  what  you  said,  God  has  for- 
given you.  He  has  promised  that  he  always  will.  And  he 
forgives  you,  he  says,  for  Christ's  sake  :  that  is,  because  Christ 

has  died  to  bring  you  out  of  the  punishment  of  your  sins 

Now,  then,  if  God  is  so  willing  to  forgive  us,  what  ought  we  to 


312        THE    CHILDREN'S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

do  to  each  other  ?     Remember  that  you  and  I  look  far  worse  in 

his  sight  than  any  of  our  fellow-creatures  do  in  our  sight 

If  you  could  see  your  own  heart  and  life  just  as  God  sees  it, — he 
is  so  much  holier  and  higher  than  we  are, — you  would  confess 
that  God  sees  more  bad  things  in  you  than  you  can  see  in  the 
worst  people  you  know.  You  will  feel,  then,  I  am  sure,  just  as 
the  Apostle  does,  that  you  ought  to  forgive  everybody,  as  God, 
for  Christ's  sake,  hath  forgiven  you. 

But  the  Apostle  says  more  than  that.  He  says,  therefore^ — 
that  is,  for  the  same  reason, — you  ought  to  be  "  followers  of 
God"  in  all  respects.  You  ought  to  be  Christians  in  earnest ; 
....  Christians  at  home,  Christians  at  school.  Christians  in 
company,  Christians  at  church,  ....  in  your  heart,  and  before 
the  world 

Then  you  will  be  ready  not  only  to  forgive  those  that  injure 
you,  but  to  govern  and  deny  yourself,  to  keep  down  your  temper 
and  appetite,  to  watch  your  tongue,  .  .  .  ■  and  to  do  all  other 
things  that  a  Christian  ought  to  do.  The  reason  is,  that  Christ 
has  loved  you,  and  given  himself  for  you,  an  offering,  or  a  sacri- 
fice.    The  motive  is,  that  you  may  please  and  honor  him  who 

has  done  so  much  for  you That  is  what  the  "  therefore" 

means.  That  is- what  it  is  to  be  "followers  of  God  as  dear  chil- 
dren." ....  Now  if  we  act  as  the  Apostle  says  here,  if  we 
•"walk  in  love,"  .  .  .  this  grand  and  glorious  motive  will  lift  up 
our  souls  and  make  them  bright  all  the  time 

A  great  deal  of  the  Bible  is  written  for  young  people.  Some- 
times this  is  said  out  plainly,*  so  that  you  cannot  help  seeing,  as 
you  read,  that  it  is  meant  for  you.  But  I  am  afraid  that  in  other 
places  you  think  you  are  not  spoken  to  when  you  are.  The 
truth  is,  about  our  duties  to  God,  and  about  the  deep  feelings  in 
our  hearts,  young  people  and  older  people  are  more  alike  than 
they  seem.     When  our  great  army  sends  out  recruiting  officers 

to  get  soldiers  for  the  war they  have  a  rule  not  to  let  any 

young  men  enlist,  unless  they  are  grown  stout  and  old  enough  to 

bear  the  hardships  of  the  camp  and  the  field But  there  is 

ru")  such  rule  about  enrolling  yourselves  in  this  other  great  arm^r, — 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING   SERVICE.       313 

the  army  of  the  Cross Accordingly,  when  St.  Paul  writes 

to  his  young  friend  Timothy,  "  Thou,  therefore,  be  strong,  and 
endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ ;"....  he 
means  jj/^z< 

The  church  of  Christ  to  which  you  belong,  then,  my  young 
friends,  speaks  to  you  as  her  youthful  soldiers.  She  loves  you, 
and  she  expects  you  to  show  your  love  for  her.  She  honors  you, 
and  she  expects  honor  from  you.  Now  there  is  only  one  way 
to  honor  her,  and  in  honoring  her  to  honor  your  Master.  You 
must  be  her  faithful  soldiers  and  servants.  What  does  this 
mean  ?     Let  me  tell  you  what  it  does  not  mean. 

It  does  not  mean  that  you  should  take  it  for  granted  you  have 

nothing  to  do  for  her It  does  not  mean  that  you  are  too 

young  to  be  Christians,  and  so  may  go  on  in  the  wrong  way 

"When  your  holy  Leader  says  to  you,  in  his  tender  and  stirring 
voice,  "  Come  with  me ;  come  and  take  this  post  of  danger  or 
duty ;  deny  yourself;  tell  the  truth  ;  pretend  to  be  only  just  what 
you  are ;  do  the  disagreeable  thing  if  it  is  only  right ;  do  it  in 
faith ;  do  it  for  my  sake  ! " — it  does  not  mean  that  you  should 
turn  away  and  pretend  you  do  not  hear.  What  kind  of  honor  is 
that?  .... 

Half  way  characters  are  never  honorable.  First,  you  are  to  be 
a  Christian  in  your  heart,  and  then  you  are  not  to  hesitate  at  all 
to  own  yourself  one  in  your  manners  and  your  life.  Your  blood 
has  leaped  quicker,  I  am  sure,  again  and  agam,  ....  at  reading 
accounts  of  young  soldiers  that  have  shown  this  frank  fortitude 
in  peril.  Some  of  them  are  almost  equal  to  the  story  of  the 
Christian  standard-bearer,  who  had  his  right  arm  shot  away  while 
he  was  holding  up  the  slender  staff  of  the  banner  of  his  regi- 
ment. Determined  that  his  flag  should  never  fall,  he  then  grasped 
it  with  his  left  hand,  and  pressed  on.  Presently  another  shot 
tore  off  the  left  arm.  Then  he  seized  it  with  his  teeth,  and  with 
both  the  shortened  stumps  bleeding,  still  rushed  on  with  his  com- 
panions till  his  blood  was  gone.  This  sounds  well  to  you  as 
happening  off  on  some  battle-ground.  But  you  have  a  chance, 
all  of  you,  to  show  the  same  unconquerable  spirit  in  doing  right, 
14 


314      I'HE   CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

and  doing  it  fearlessly,  for  God.  Be  faithful  unto  death,  and  have 
a  crown  of  life. 

You  will  see  that  I  am  anxious  to  have  your  decision  confessed 
before  men.  The  best  affection  for  you  can  ask  nothing  so  good, 
so  blessed,  as  that.     I  speak  to  you  in  the  name  of  Christ.     He 

wishes  it  for  you He  tells  you  this.     He  tells  you  in  his 

Scriptures  ;  he  tells  you  by  secret  feelings  that  he  puts  into  your 
■hearts.  Let  me  ask  you  a  question  ?  Sometimes  when  you  ha\x 
everything  bright  and  comfortable  about  you,  and  the  world  seems 
to  have  filled  your  cup  brimful,  is  there  not  a  feeling  of  dissatis- 
faction deep  down  in  your  soul  ?  .  .  .  .  What  do  you  think  this 
feeling  means  ?  "  Blessed  are  they  that  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness."  May  not  that  be  what  it  means  ?  .  .  .  .  But  will 
the  hunger  in  your  heart  be  filled,  ....  and  God  be  found,  and 
your  soul  rest  in  him  ?  That  depends  on  yourself.  Christ  has 
done  his  part,  in  coming  to  you,  and  waking  up  the  feeling, 
knocking  at  the  door  of  your  heart.  Will  you  arise  up,  and  open 
the  door  and  thankfully  let  him  have  your  heart,  to  keep  it  pure 
and  holy  forever  ?  .  .  .  . 

Suppose  you  are  a  young  man,  and  that  you  heard  what  the 
greatest  and  most  successful  master  of  brewery  in  all  Europe, 
once  said  to  a  young  man  who  went  to  him  for  advice.  He  said, 
"I  would  have  you,  my  young  friend,  give  mind,  soul,  heart,  body 
to  business.  That  is  the  way  to  be  happy.  Stick  to  your  brew- 
ery and  you  will  be  the  great  brewer  of  London.  Be  brewer 
and  banker  and  merchant  and  manufacturer,  and  you  will  soon 
have  your  name  in  the  Gazette." 

That  was  the  highest  thing  this  successful  man  of  business, 
with  all  his  millions  of  money,  had  to  say  to  an  ingenuous  youth 
with  a  heart  in  his  breast,  just  starting  in  life.  Would  it  satisfy 
you  ?  How  does  it  sound  beside  that  other  language  of  which  it  is 
almost  a  wicked,  impious  parody,  "Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy 
God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy 
mind."  A  name  published  with  flattery  in  the  Gazette ; — a  name 
written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  everlasting  life.  Which  would  you 
have  ?     That   advice  was   given   to   Fowell  Buxton  and,  thank 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      315 

Heaven,  it  was  thrown  away  upon  him,  for  he  had  read  in  his 
New  Testament,  "  What  shall  it  profit  a  man  if  he  shall  gain  the 
whole  world  and  lose  his  own  soul?"  His  adviser  did  become 
the  greatest  banker  in  the  world,  and  had  his  name  every  week  in 
the  Gazette  ;  and  that  is  all.  "  Verily  they  have  their  reward." 
Buxton  becomes  the  generous  Christian  friend  of  man,  walking 
in  love,  kind  and  tender-hearted,  a  follower  of  Christ,  loved  him- 
self and  honored  everywhere ;  not   only  in  Europe,  but   in  all 

Christian  countries 

There  used  to  be,  in  some  old  churches,  statues  of  St.  Christo- 
pher, the  martyr.  Christopher  means  Christ-bearer :  and  this 
holy  man  was  represented  as  bearing  the  infant  Christ  on  his 
shoulders.  The  story  is,  that  being  at  first  a  heathen  youth  of 
fine  figure,  very  muscular  and  active,  he  was  determined  to  seek 
out  the  strongest  man  in  the  world,  and  join  him,  and  follow 
him.  After  searching  a  long  time,  he  found  a  Christian  prince 
famous  for  strength,  and  a  great  warrior.  But  one  day  this  prince 
spoke  something  about  Satan.  Then  the  heathen  youth  asked 
him  who  Satan  was.  The  prince  told  him  Satan  was  a  wicked 
being,  more  powerful  than  any  man,  and  that  he  was  afraid  of 
him,  "  If  that  is  the  case,"  said  the  young  pagan,  "  I  shall  leave 
you,  and  serve  Satan,  because  he  is  the  strongest."  Going  through 
a  lonely  forest,  he  met  a  dark-looking  personage,  who  asked  him 
what  he  was  looking  for.  "  Satan,"  said  the  young  man,  "  the 
strongest  being."  "I  am  he,"  said  this  person,  "follow  me." 
And  so  he  did ;  but  as  they  went  on,  and  came  n^r  to  a  great 
city,  he  noticed  that  his  dark-looking  leader  struck  out  of  the 
great  highway,  and  took  to  by-paths.  "  Why  is  this  ?"  he  asked. 
"  Because,"  said  Satan,  "  my  greatest  enemy  who  once  conquered 
me,  comes  that  way  :  I  offered  him  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world, 
and  he  said  '  Get  thee  behind  me.'  Three  times  I  tempted  him, 
and  three  times  he  overcame  me  ;  and  I  am  afraid  to  meet  him." 
**  Oh,  then,"  the  youth  replied,  "  J  shall  leave  you,  and  serve  him, 
because  he  is  stronger  than  you."  So  he  went  on  inquiring,  till 
he  found  that  Stronger  One,  and  found  he  was  not  like  kings  or 
warriors,  but  was  like  a  little  child,  the  Lamb  of  God,  giving  him- 


3i6     THE  children's  preaching  service. 

self  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice  :  not  strong  in  the  body,  but 
so  weak  that  the  young  man,  the  Christ-bearer,  could  bear  him 
on  his  shoulders — yet  he  was  Lord  of  all.  Then  he  believed  in 
his  heart,  and  was  baptized  by  the  name  of  Christopher,  bore  his 
cross,  and  died  a  glorious  martyr.  Now,  then,  if  you  will  serve 
the  strongest,  and  have  the  mightiest  of  all  beings  in  heaven  and 
earth  for  your  Master,  whose  name  is  Love,  and  who  is  mightiest 
because  he  loves  most  and  suffers  most,  what  does  the  text 
say  ?  "  Be  ye  therefore  followers  of  God,  as  dear  children,  and 
walk  in  love,  as  Christ  also  hath  loved  us,  and  given  himself  for 
us,  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice."  Then  each  of  you  may  be  a 
Christ-bearer,  bearing  Christ  in  your  heart,  and  loyal  to  him  as 
your  King ;  always  bearing  about  in  your  body  the  dying  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  :  having  his  life  formed  in  you  ;  and  if  not  one  of  the 
noble  army  of  martyrs,  yet  a  confessor  of  him  daily  before  men. 

There  are  only  two  armies,  my  dear  friends,  and  you  must 

choose  between  them If  you  are  living  all  the  while  as  if 

you  did  not  care  which  side  you  are  on,  you  are  really  on  Satan's 
side,  and,  coward,  thief  and  traitor  as  he  is,  he  is  glad  enough  to 
have  you.  But  are  yon  glad  '^  Will  you  not  rather  give  up  any- 
thing in  the  world  than  be  on  Satan's  side  always  ?  Always  !  No, 
you  mean  better  than  that.     But  when  will  you  change,  if  not 

now  in  the  accepted  time  ?     Christ  is  your  only  lawful  King 

Arise  with  him,  follow  after  him,  fight  for  him  against  sin,  the 
world,  the  d^vil ;  walk  with  him  in  newness  of  life,  and  in  love  ; 
and  let  everybody  that  knows  you  at  all,  know  that  you  are  his 
faithful  soldier  and  servant.  For  how  sadly  he  says,  "  Whoso- 
ever shall  be  ashamed  to  confess  me  before  men,  of  him  shall  the 
Son  of  man  be  ashamed,  when  he  cometh  in  the  glory  of  his 
Father." 

You  know  that  the  Christian  poet  Keble  has  made  many  of 
the  beautiful  observances  of  our  Christian  year  even  more  beau- 
tiful by  his  chaste  imagination.  He  has  put  into  verse  some  of 
the  feelings  and  prayers  with  which  young  hearts,  mingling  in  with 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.       317 

those  of  more  experience  and  age,  may  be  supposed  to  bow  then 
heads  in  the  holy  place  to  receive  their  Bishop's  blessing,  and  to 
consecrate  themselves  to  a  life-long  service  of  their  Saviour. 

Draw,  Holy  Ghost,  Thy  seven-fold  veil 

Between  us  and  the  fires  of  youth  ; 
Breathe  Holy  Ghost,  Thy  freshening  gale, 

Our  fever'd  brow  in  age  to  soothe. 

And  oft  as  sin  and  sorrow  tire, 

The  hallow'd  hour  do  Thou  renew. 
When  beckoned  up  the  awful  choir 

By  pastoral  hands,  toward  Thee  we  drew ; 

When  trembling  at  the  sacred  rail 

We  hid  our  eyes  and  held  our  breath. 
Felt  Thee  how  strong,  our  hearts  how  frail. 

And  longed  to  own  Thee  to  the  death. 

Forever  on  our  souls  be  trac'd 

That  blessing  dear,  that  dove-like  hand 
A  sheltering  rock  in  memory's  waste 

O'er-shadowing  all  the  weary  land. 

But  remember  there  is  something  greater,  holier,  deeper  than 
any  poetry.  It  is  the  question  of  your  soul ;  life  or  death.  It 
is  the  question  whether  you  are  for  Jesus  your  Lord,  or  against 
him.  It  is  the  question  whether  you  will  have  the  promise  and 
carry  it  away  with  you  this  night  to  make  all  the  rest  of  your  life 
strong  and  happy  and  to  open  to  you  the  life  eternal.  "  Whoso- 
ever shall  confess  me  before  men,  him  will  I  confess  also  before 
my  Father  which  is  in  Heaven." 


OUTLINE    OF    A    SERMON    ON    READING. 

BY   THE   REV.  JAMES    M.    FREEMAN,* 
Of  Halsey  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Newark,  N.  J. 
[Put   on    the    blackboard   a   hand    with    thumb    and   fingers 
*■  Author  of  The  Use  of  Illustration  in  Sunday-school  Teaching. 


3i8     THE  children's  preaching  service. 

extended,  and  an  open  book.     This  may  be  done  in  presence 
of  the  assembly,  or  beforehand,  as  deemed  preferable.] 


Give  attendance  to  reading.     I.  Tim.  iv.  13. 

This'the  advice  of  an  old  minister  to  a  young  one. 

"  Give  attendance  !"  means  Give  attention  !  Very  hard  some- 
times for  children  to  do  this.     Try  it  all  of  you,  now. 

There  will  be  five  points  to  this  sermon,  just  as  you  have  five 
fingers — including  the  thumb — on  each  hand.  [Extend  the  hand, 
or  ask  the  children  to  do  so ;  then  show  the  hand  on  the  black- 
board.] 

I.  Why  should  %ve  read?  [Show  the  thumb,  and  write 
"  Why  "i  "  in  the  thumb  on  the  board.] 

1.  We  can  get  wiser  by  reading. 

[a.)  This  is  only  one  way  of  learning,  but  a  very  important  way. 

(b.)  Story  of  little  Willie  Jones,  whose  mother  told  him  when- 
ever he  asked  a  question,  "  Read,  and  you  will  know."  He  be- 
came a  very  learned  man,  and  was  called  "  Sir  William  Jones." 

2.  We  can  become  better  by  reading. 

a.  Reading  a  good  book  is  like  hearing  a  good  man  talk  to  us. 
h.  Thus,  long  after  good  men  are  dead,  we  may  know  what 
they  thought  and  said  while  living. 

II.  When  shoidd  we  read?  [Show  first  finger,  and  write 
"  When  ? "  in  it,  on  the  board.] 

1.  Well  to  have  regular  time  for  reading,  if  we  can  ;  and  most 
children  can  if  they  will. 

2.  Improve  the  spare  moments. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING   SERVICE.        319 

(Story  of  Ben  Johnson,  the  mason's  boy,  who  carried  a  book 
in  his  pocket  while  he  laid  brick,  and  took  it  out  to  read  a 
moment  or  two  at  a  time  while  waiting  for  brick  or  mortar. 
Elihu  Burritt,  the  blacksmith's  boy,  used  to  have  a  book  be- 
fore him  on  his  big  bellows,  and  read  while  he  blowed  the 
fire.) 

3.  Don't  read  at  twilight,  for  it  will  hurt  your  eyes  ;  or  late  at 
night,  for  that  is  the  time  to  be  in  bed. 

III.  What  should  we  read?    [Second  finger.] 
This  the  most  important  of  all. 

1.  Some  children  read  everything  they  can  get  hold  of,  and 
boast  of  it. 

(a.)  As  foolish  as  to  eat  everything  you  see. 
{b.)  Should  be  as  careful  about  reading  as  about  food,  for 
reading  is  the  food  of  the  mind. 

2.  Some  read  only  new  books.  But  a  new  book  may  be  a  bad 
book,  while  an  old  book  may  be  a  good  one. 

3.  Some  read  only  handsome  books.  But  many  pretty  books 
are  very  bad  books. 

(Like  colored  candies.) 

4.  Some  want  to  read  only  large  boolcs.      This  is  very  foolish. 

5.  Read  only  good  books.  The  Bible  is  the  best  of  all.  It 
tells  us  about  Jesus.  [Write  these  words  in  the  open  book  on 
the  board  :  "  The  Bible  is  the  book  of  books."] 

IV.  Where  should  we  read?     [Third  finger.] 

Almost  anywhere  but  in  bed,  in  Sunday-school,  or  in  church — 
excepting,  of"  course,  when  we  read  the  Bible  lesson  in  church  or 
Sunday-school. 

V.  How  shotdd  we  read  ?     [Fourth  finger.] 

1.  Not  too  much  at  once,  any  more  than  you  would  eat  too 
much  at  once. 

2.  Try  to  understand  the  meaning  of  what  you  read.  Do  not 
skip  over  the  hard  words. 

(a.)  Look  in  the  dictionary  if  you  have  one. 


320       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

(3.)  Or,  ask  some  one  who  knows.  (Find  it  out  yourself  if 
you  can.) 

{c.)  Better  to  read  only  a  line  and  understand  it,  than  to  read 
a  whole  book  through,  and  not  know  what  it  means. 

3.  When  a  passage  in  the  Bible  is  referred  to,  search  it  out. 

4.  Be  careful  how  you  use  your  books. 

(Story  of  Jehudi,  who  cut  the  book  with  a  pen-knife.  Jer. 
xxxvi.  23.) 

[At  the  close  of  the  sermon,  the  blackboard  will  show  thus  : 


On  the  other  side  of  the  board,  have  the  following  synopsis  of 
the  sermon ;  not  to  be  shown  until  after  it  is  preached.  Then, 
the  children  to  be  questioned  on  it. 

I.  PF/ij^? 
Two  reasons. 
Willie  Jones. 

II.  IVAen? 

The  mason's  boy. 

III.  W/iai? 
Colored  candies. 

IV.  W/iere? 
Anywhere  but 

V.  How? 
Be  careful. 
Jehudi.] 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      32 1 


BELIEVING   IN    JESUS. 

BY    RALPH    WELLS, 
Superintendent  of  Grace  Mission  S.  S.,  New  York. 

Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.  Acts 
xvi.  31. 

[The  text,  displayed  on  a  piece  of  white  muslin,  in  ornamental 
letters  cut  from  gilt  and  colored  paper,  is  suspended  before  the 
assembly,  thus  :] 


^3BiL55S"t7i5  on  «je 
anJ  tljou  sijalt  6e 


That  all  may  remember  the  principal  words  of  the  text,  I  have 
written  them  out  in  larger  letters  than  the  rest.  The  first  large 
word  is  Believe  ;  the  second  is  Jesus  ;  the  third  is  Saved. 

Now,  what  I  say  to  you,  children,  I  will  divide  into  two  parts; 
and  I  want  you  to  repeat  them  after  me,  and  remember  them. 

I.      What  is  it  to  believe  ? 
II.      Why  should  I  believe  ? 

First:      What  is  it  to  believe  ? 

There  was  a  great  general,  told  of  in  the  Bible,  who  was  a 
famous  soldier,  and  a  favorite  with  his  master,  the  king  ;  but  who 
had  a  terrible  disease,  which  he  longed  to  be  cured  of.  What 
14* 


322       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

was  his  name  ?  [A  pause.]  Can't  any  of  you  tell  it  ?  [Still,  no 
answer.]  It  began  with  an  N.  What  was  it?  ''Naaman!" 
Yes.  I  thought  some  of  you  knew  it.  In  the  family  of  this 
general,  there  was  a  little  girl,  vvho  had  been  taken  prisoner  and 

brought  to  his  home.     She  saw  her  master  all  white  with . 

What  was  the  disease  }  ^^  Leprosy.'"  Yes,  Well  this  little  girl 
said  to  her  mistress,  Naaman's  wife,  "  Oh  I  wish  my  master 
could  see  the  great  prophet  there  is  in  my  country.  I  know  h^e 
could  cure  him."  The  wife  told  her  husband  about  this.  I 
think  Naaman  was  a  kind  man,  else  they  wouldn't  have  cared  so 
much  about  his  being  cured.  Naaman  thought  to  himself: 
Well,  a  great  general  can  be  cured  if  anybody  can.  So  he  went 
to  his  king,  and  told  him  about  it,  and  his  king  wrote  to  the  king 
of  Israel,  and  told  him  he  wanted  the  prophet  to  cure  his  general. 
Then  there  were  two  kings  at  work  for  his  cure.  He  ought  to 
be  cured,  now.  Riding  in  his  great  chariot,  with  his  servants 
about  him,  Naaman  went  to  the  door  of  the  prophet's  house. 
He  sent  his  servant  to  tell  Elisha  to  come  out,  thinking  that  of 
course  when  such  a  great  man  as  he  was  there,  the  prophet  would 
come  out  very  humbly,  to  see  what  he  could  do  for  him.  But 
Elisha  didn't  go  out  of  his  house — didn't  go  near  the  general. 
He  simply  sent  out  word,  "  Go  and  wash  in  the  river  Jordan, 
seven  times,  and  you  shall  be  cured."  Oh  how  angry  Naaman 
was,  then  !  "  What ! "  he  said,  "  Go  and  wash  in  that  little 
stream,  Jordan  ?  What's  the  use  of  that  .-•  We've  a  great  deal 
better  rivers  than  that  in  our  country.  And  then  a  cold  bath  is 
the  very  worst  thing  I  could  take,  with  this  trouble.  It's  all 
nonsense.  I  won't  do  any  such  thing."  But  his  servant  said, 
"  Look  here,  master,  if  you  had  been  asked  to  try  some  great 
thing  for  a  cure,  wouldn't  you  have  tried  it  ?  Suppose  you  just 
try  this  little  thing  that  the  prophet  recommends  ! "  "  Well, 
I'll  try  it,"  said  Naaman,  "but  I  know  it's  of  no  use."  So  down 
to  the  Jordan  they  went.  Stepping  into  the  water,  he  said,  "  I 
don't  believe  it  will  do  any  good."  He  dipped  himself  in  the 
water,  saying  the  same  thing  again.  He  dipped  the  second  time  ; 
the  third ;  the  fourth.     "  Oh,  it's  no  use,"  he  said.     He  dipped 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        323 

the  fifth  time.  "It's  all  nonsense."  The  sixth  time.  "What's 
the  use  of  trying  this  over  and  over,  this  v^ay.  There's  noth- 
ing in  it."  Only  once  more.  He  trembled  a  little  as  he  tried 
it  the  last  time.  "  What  if  there  should  be  anything  in  it  ? "  He 
dipped  the  seventh  time,  just  as  he  was  told  to.  Look  at  him ! 
Where  now  is  his  leprosy  ?  Clean  as  that  little  child  there  !  His 
flesh  soft  and  fair,  and  he  all  well  again.  Oh,  how  he  danced  for 
very  joy.     Wasn't  he  glad  he  had  taken  the  prophet's  advice  ? 

Oh,  what  a  simple  thing  it  is  to  believe  !  Our  souls,  children, 
are  sick.  No  river  in  all  the  world  will  clean  them.  But  "there 
is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood,"  which  will  cleanse  all  our  souls, 
if  we  only  believe  in  it. 

[Further  illustrations  are  given  of  the  nature  of  saving  belief. 
2.  Look  and  live.  Illustration  :  The  brazen  serpent  uplifted  by 
Moses — presented  in  a  vivid  word-picture.  3.  Trust  him  who 
offers  to  pay  all  our  soul  debts.  Illustration ;  The  payment,  by 
an  Irish  lord,  of  the  entire  indebtedness  of  all  of  his  tenants  who 
would  present  their  cases  to  him  at  a  given  day  and  hour :  only 
two  believing  him,  they  only  were  relieved.  4.  Consider  Christ's 
righteousness  perfect.  Illustration :  A  young  lady  dropping 
a  white  handkerchief  on  the  fresh  fallen  snow,  and  thinking  it 
soiled  because  of  the  contrast.  Thus  with  our  best  conduct  by 
the  standard  of  perfection.  All  these  illustrations  are  given  in 
full  and  graphic  detail,  like  that  of  Naaman.] 

And  now  for  the  second  division  of  the  subject.  What  is  it  ? 

"  Why  should  I  believe .?  " 

Yes,  that  is  it.  It  is  a  very  simple  thing  to  believe  ;  but  why 
should  I  believe. 

I.  I  should  believe  because  it  cost  so  much  for  Jesus  to  bring 
salvation  to  me.  There  was  an  army  once  where  the  soldiers 
mutinied — rose  in  rebellion  against  their  commanders,  and  for 
this,  they  were  to  be  punished.  All  of  them  deserved  death,  for 
all  had  broken  the  law.  But  the  general's  order  was  that  only 
every  tenth  man  should  die.  The  other  nine  should  be  spared.  So 
the  long  line  of  men  was  drawn  up,  and  the  counting  commenced. 


324       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

Anxious  times  there !  One  !  two  !  three  !  four  !  five  !  six  ! 
seven  !  eight !  nine  !  ten  !  Let  that  man  step  out  and  be  shot. 
One  !  two  !  three  !  four  !  five  !  six  !  seven  ! — How  the  men  who 
were  passed  breathed  free.  Eight !  nine  !  Didn't  the  next  man 
tremble  as  the  call  came  toward  him  ?  Ten,  and  he  must  step 
forward  and  die.  In  that  line  stood  a  father  and  son,  next  each 
other.  As  the  counting  came  down  towards  them,  the  son  ran 
his  eye  up  the  line  and  saw  that  his  father  would  be  the  tenth 
man,  and  must  die,  unless  he  could  save  him.  He  resolved  to 
give  his  life  for  his  father's.  Quick  !  there  was  no  time  to  be 
lost.  Five  !  six  !  seven  !  came  the  count  on  their  ten.  Eight ! 
nine  !  and  like  a  flash  the  son  changed  places  with  his  father, 
pushing  him  one  down  the  line.  Teit !  came  the  count  to  the 
son,  and  he  stepped  out  to  die.     His  father  was  saved. 

Thai  is  the  way,  children,  that  Jesus  died  for  us.  We  were 
all  under  sentence  of  death.  Jesus  stepped  into  our  places. 
He  died  for  us.  He  died  in  my  stead.  I  ought  to  believe  in  a 
salvation  that  cost  as  much  as  that. 

[It  is  further  urged  that  I  should  believe,  2.  Because  of  the 
claims  of  gratitude.  Illustration :  The  ungrateful  guest,  branded 
by  Philip  of  Macedon.  3.  Because  my  soul  needs  a  home.  Illus- 
tration :  A  boy  in  New  York  without  a  home  or-  a  fi'iend,  longing 
to  be  sheltered  and  loved.  4.  Because  of  the  end  of  the  believer 
and  unbeliever.  Illustration :  Cole's  three  pictures  of  the  two  ways 
of  the  earthly  pilgrim.     These  illustrations,  also,  are  expanded. 

With  a  word  to  teachers  and  another  to  parents,  to  urge  them 
to  bring  their  dear  children  to  believe  in  Jesus,  the  outline  of 
the  subject  is  again  presented  to  the  children,  thus  : 

I.    What  is  it  to  believe  ? 

1.  Wash  and  be  clean.     Naaman. 

2.  Look  and  live.     The  brazen  serpent. 

3.  Believe  in  the  promised  payment  of  our  debts  by  Jesus. 
The  Irish  lord  and  his  tenants. 

4.  Trust  the  perfect  righteousness  of  Christ.  Handkerchief 
on  the  snow. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        325 

II.    Why  should  I  believe  ? 

1.  It  cost  so  much  for  Jesus  to  save  me.     The  young  soldier 
dying  for  his  father. 

2.  Gratitude  demands  it.     The  ungrateful  guest. 

3.  My  soul  needs  a  home.     The  homeless  and  friendless  boy. 

4.  In  view  of  the  end  of  the  believer  and  of  the  unbeliever. 
Cole's  three  pictures,  of  the  two  paths.] 


THE    WILLOW.* 

BY   E.   D.  JONES,    ST.   LOUIS,   MO., 
President  of  the  Baptist  State  S.  S.  Convention,  of  Missouri. 


And  ye  shall  take  you  on  the  first  day  the  boughs  of  goodly  trees, 
branches  of  palm-trees,  and  the  boughs  of  thick  trees,  and  willows 
of  the  brook  ;  and  ye  shall  rejoice  before  the  Lord  your  God  seven 
days.     Lev.  xxxiii.  40. 

*One  of  a  series  of  addresses  on  The  Trees  of  the  Bible,  delivered  by  Mr. 
Jones  before  the  Benton  Street  Mission  Sunday  School,  St.  Louis,  of  which 
he  is  superintendent. 


326       THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

The  shady  trees  cover  him  with  their  shadow  ;  the  willows  of  the 
brook  compass  him  about.     Job  xl.  22. 

Therefore  the  abu7idance  they  have  gotten,  and  that  which  they 
have  laid  up,  shall  they  carry  away  to  the  brook  of  the  willows. 
Isaiah  xv.  7. 

And  they  shall  spring  up  as  among  the  grass,  as  willows  by  the 
water-courses.     Isaiah  xliv.  4. 

He  took  alsch  of  the  seed  of  the  land,  and  planted  it  in  a  fruitful 
field ;  he  placed  it  by  great  waters,  and  set  it  as  a  willow-tree, 
Ezek.  xvii.  5. 

Let  us  learn  of  the  willow-tree  a  few  lessons,  which  its  nature 
may  profitably  suggest  to  us. 

I.     It  thj'ives  best  near  the  water. 

It  is  called  in  the  Bible,  "  the  willows  of  the  brooks,"  "  wil- 
lows by  the  water-courses."  David  referring  to  the  time  when 
the  Jews  were  in  captivity,  says,  *'  By  the  river  of  Babylon,  there 
we  sat  down,  yea,  we  wept,  when  we  remembered  Zion,  We 
hanged  our  harps  upon  the  willows."  All  through  the  Bible 
where  the  willow  is  mentioned  it  seems  to  be  associated  with 
living  streams  of  water,  as  if  the  tree  could  not  live  unless  planted 
where  its  roots  could  penetrate  the  moistened  soil,  and  drink  un- 
ceasingly of  that  which  should  gi'^  it  a  rich  and  rapid  growth. 
Indeed,  the  willow  cannot  flourish  upon  the  mountain  top,  nor 
upon  the  flat  prairie  lands,  no  matter  how  rich  the  soil  may  be. 
It  can  only  thrive  in  localities  that  afford  an  abundance  of  fresh 
living  water  for  it  to  feast  upon.  Its  roots  thirst,  and  will  sink 
themselves,  and  go  long  distances,  to  find  water,  that  seems  to  be 
of  such  importance  to  its  very  existence. 

So  the  Christian  grows  and  thrives  best,  not  on  the  mountain 
of  self-exaltation,  not  on  the  barren  waste  of  sin,  exposed  to  the 
temptations  of  the  evil  one,  but  when  planted  beside  the  influ- 
ences of  God's  Holy  Spirit.  David  says,  "  And  he  shall  be  like 
a  tree  planted  by  the  rivers  of  water,  that  bringeth  forth  his  fruit 
in  his  season."  Rivers  and  streams  of  water  are  used  as  sym- 
bols to  represent  the  happy  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  This 
blessed  Spirit  of  the  living  God  is  what  the  Christian  feeds  upon  ; 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING   SERVICE.        32/ 

he  lives  by  it ;  he  lives  upon  it ;  and  when  he  is  removed  from 
it  he  suffers  bitterly  until  he  is  brought  back  to  its  life-giving  and 
life-sustaining  power. 

When  the  Christian  is  on  duty,  hard  at  work  for  Jesus  ;  often 
in  prayer  and  worship ;  always  present  at  church,  Sunday-school, 
prayer-meeting,  then  he  may  be  said  to  be  like  the  growing, 
flourishing  "willow  of  the  brook."  It  is  when  the  Christian  has 
sweet  and  continued  intercourse  with  God  that  his  soul  improves, 
and  gains  that  rich  growth  in  grace,  which  is  so  fitting  to  this  life 
and  the  life  to  come.  It  is  reported  that  when  a  woman  was 
brought  before  Bonner,  the  Bishop  of  London,  to  be  tried  for 
her  religion,  he  threatened  her  that  he  would  take  away  her  hus- 
band. Said  she,  "  Christ  is  my  husband. "  Then  he  threatened 
to  take  away  her  child.  Said  she,  "Christ  is  better  to  me  than 
ten  sons."  Then  he  threatened  to  strip  her  of  all  earthly  com- 
forts. "Yea,"  said  she,  "  Christ  is  mine  and  you  cannot  strip  me 
of  him."  So  is  it  with  all  who  live  near  to  Christ;  he  helps 
them  to  grow  spiritually,  and  to  become  so  strong  in  him  that 
even  death  can  never  separate  them.  Eternity  only  binds  the 
Christian  nearer  to  Jesus,  and  the  longer  they  are  together,  the 
deeper  and  more  lasting  is  their  love. 

2.     It  is  a  thing  of  Joy. 

"Willows  are  mentioned  among  the  trees  whose  branches  were 
\ised  in  the  construction  of  booths,  under  which  the  Feast  of  the 
Tabernacle  was  celebrated. 

Job  says,  in  speaking  of  the  Behemoth,  or  Hippopotamus,  that 
the  willows  afforded  him  a  grateful  shade  by  the  side  of  the  i^ers. 

Isaiah,  in  speaking  of  the  offspring  of  the  people  of  Israel, 
said  they  should  spring  up  or  multiply  as  rapidly  as  did  "the 
willows  by  the  water-courses." 

It  is  spoken  of  as  a  useful  tree.  It  has  been  used  in  roofing 
the  hut  of  the  savage  ;  baskets,  chairs,  and  boats,  are  made  from 
the  wood.  The  charcoal  from  the  wood  is  said  to  be  the  best  to 
use  in  making  gunpowder. 

Poets  have  sung  of  the  willow  in  all  ages  as  a  beautiful  and 
expressive  tree,  and  as  a  tree  of  real  virtue,  and  as  a  thing  of  joy. 


328        THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

The  Christian  may  be  safely  compared  to  the  willow  as  an  ob- 
ject of  joy  in  the  world.  He  affords  joy  everywhere,  especially 
when  he  aims  to  build  up  the  Church  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ; 
when  he  is  lending  comfort  to  the  poor,  the  sick,  the  afflicted ; 
when  he  can  render  himself  useful  in  any  sphere  of  life,  in  the 
church,  in  the  Sunday-school,  in  the  hospital,  anywhere  that  God 
will  be  honored  and  his  fellow-men  benefited ; — happy  himself, 
he  helps  to  make  the  world  around  him  happy  by  his  usefulness,  ■ 
and  especially  when  he  helps  poor  sinners  to  Jesus. 

One  day  a  hunter,  in  search  of  game,  had  lost  his  way  in  an 
African  forest.  He  was  faint  and  weary.  His  attention  was  at- 
tracted by  the  strange  twittering  and  chattering  of  a  little  gray 
bird.  It  seemed  excited  about  something  and  anxious  to  attract 
his  attention.  The  hunter  thought  he  would  follow  the  little 
bird.  He  followed  it  until  it  led  him  to  a  hollow  tree.  He  ex- 
amined the  tree,  and  on  looking  into  it  found  a  quantity  of  honey. 
He  ate  of  it,  and  was  strengthened.  On  inquiring,  he  found  the 
natives  called  it  the  honey-bird,  and  that  it  seemed  to  take  de- 
light in  showing  people  the  trees  which  had  honey  in  them.  So 
when  we  see  the  Christian  boy  and  girl  making  themselves  use- 
ful in  pointing  others  to  Jesus,  we  may  compare  them  to  the 
honey-bird,  or,  the  willow  of  the  brooks,  things  of  joy  and  of 
great  value.  The  poor  anxious  honey-bird  it  is  true  found  some- 
thing sweet,  but  he  that  finds  Jesus  tastes  that  which  is  sweeter 
than  honey.  His  soul  may  feast  and  never  tire  through  an  end- 
less eternity. 

3.  •//  is  an  emblem  of  viotirning. 

The  willow  is  a  very  graceful  tree,  with  slender  swaying 
branches,  long,  narrow  pointed  leaves.  Its  leaves  and  branches 
present  a  mournful  look,  as  they  seem  to  droop  their  heads,  as  if 
the  deepest  grief  and  sorrow  and  distress  were  aching  its  very 
heart,  and  it  had  not  the  power  to  hold  its  head  and  branches 
erect,  like  other  trees.  The  whole  expression  of  the  tree  gives 
us  an  idea  of  grief  and  sorrow. 

Under  these  trees,  along  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates,  the  cap- 
tive Jews  in  Babylon,  seem  to  have  poured  out  their  sorrow.    On 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.      329 

these  trees  they  seem  to  have  hung  their  harps,  laying  aside 
these  instruments  of  joy,  to  give  place  to  sorrow  and  weeping  as 
they  thought  of  their  native  land.  "  By  the  rivers  of  Babylon, 
there  we  sat  down,  yea,  we  wept,  when  we  remembered  Zion. 
We  hanged  our  harp  upon  the  willows  in  the  midst  thereof." 

The  willow  tree  does  not  seem  to  be  in  mourning  for  itself. 
It  has  a  stream  of  water  near  to  keep  its  life  always  fresh,  and 
with  all  its  grief  it  maintains  its  beauty  and  loveliness.  It  may  be 
said  to  be  sympathizing,  weeping  in  sympathy  with  others.  Let 
one  who  is  in  grief  go  near  the  willow,  and  at  once  the  tree 
seems  to  be  in  sympathy  with  him,  and  a  relief  comes  because  it 
appears  to  share  his  sorrow  with  him. 

Give  me  the  willow  to  wave  its  drooping  branches  over  my 
simple  grave.  Give  me  no  cold  and  cheerless  monument  of 
marble,  to  mark  my  resting-place.  The  sympathizing  willow 
shall  speak  for  me — shall  act  for  me  when  my  voice  is  hushed 
in  the  stillness  of  death.  I  can  then  breathe  no  solace  to  the 
mourning  hearts  of  loved  ones,  but  the  willow's  sweet  and  ten- 
der expressiveness,  shall  ease  the  grief  and  sorrow  of  those  who 
come  to  drop  the  tear  of  Christian  sympathy  and  love.  I  would 
leave  behind  me  no  sweeter  influence  than  that  which  would  ease 
the  grief  of  others. 

We  might  compare  the  Christian  to  the  willow,  as  a  blessing, 
because  he  is  a  sympathizer  and  a  sharer  in  the  griefs  and  sor- 
rows of  others.  It  is  true  that  stars  and  glow-worms  shine  best 
in  the  dark  ;  that  spices  smell  sweeter  when  crushed  ;  that  young 
trees  take  root  best  when  shaken ;  that  camomile  spreads,  the 
more  you  trample  on  it ;  that  afflictions,  trials,  pains,  sorrows, 
elevate  and  enrich  the  Christian  ;  but  no  sorrowing  one  is  made 
§0  strong  as  when  he  can  find  a  sympathizing  heart  to  share,  his 
griefs  and  sorrows  with  him. 

So  ought  vv^e  to  be  like  the  willow,  sharing  the  afflictions  and 
griefs  of  those  about  us.  If  one  is  in  pain,  sickness,  disappoint- 
ment, bereavement,  or  sorrow  of  any  kind,  we  should  not  only 
lend  a  word  of  comfort,  a  hand  to  help  ;  but  if  need  be,  drop  the 
tear  of  love  and  sympathy.     Jesus  wept  with  those  loving  sisters, 


330      THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

at  the  grave  of  Lazarus,  and  if  the  Son  of  God  could  sympathize 
with  the  poor,  the  sick,  the  outcast,  and  could  drop  the  tear  of 
pity  and  tender  compassion  for  those  in  sorrow  and  affliction, 
ought  we  not — when  we  need  it  ^o  much  ourselves — to  imitate 
him  who  left  us  such  blessed  examples. 


SKETCH    OF    AN    ADDRESS    ON    BESETTING    SINS. 

BY   WILLIAM    REYNOLDS,  PEOR^^,   ILL. 
President  of  the  Illinois  State  S.  S.  Convention. 

Wherefore,  seehig  ive  also  are  compassed  about  with  so  great  a 
cloud  of  witficsses,  let  74.S  lay  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin  which 
doth  so  easily  beset  us,  and  let  us  rim  with  patience  the  race  that  is 
set  before  us,  looking  tmto  Jesus  the  author  and  finisher  of  our 
faith  ;  who  for  the  joy  that  %vas  set  before  him  endured  the  cross, 
despising  the  shame,  and  is  set  down  at  the  right  hand  of  the  thro  fie 
of  God.     Heb.  xii.  i,  2. 

Written  at  the  top  of  the  blackboard,  on  either  hand,  are  the 
words  :  Looking  unto  Jesus,  and  Besetting  sins. 

A  description  is  given,  as  vividly  as  possible,  of  the  ancient 
games,  to  which  allusion  is  obviously  made  in  the  text.  For 
the  Olympian  races,  a  severe  special  training  was  necessary. 
"You  wish  to  conquer  at  the  Olympic  games  V  said  Epictetus, 
*'  So  also  do  I ;  for  it  is  honorable  ;  but  bethink  yourself  what 
the  attempt  implies,  and  then  begin  the  undertaking.  You  must 
subject  yourself  to  a  determinate  course  ;  .  .  .  .  must  pursue  the 
established  exercises  at  fixed  hours  in  heat  and  cold ;  must  ab- 
stain from  all  delicacies  in  meat  and  drink ;  yield  yourself  unre- 
servedly to  the  control  of  the  presiding  physician,  and  even  en- 
dure flogging." 

At  the  time  of  the  contest,  there  was  such  an  assemblage 
as  no  other  occasion  could  bring  together.  Thousands  upon 
thousands  were  there,  to  witness  the  struggle  of  those  v/ho 
had  been  so  long  in  preparation  for  the  eventful  hour.     On  a 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        33 1 

tripod,  in  the  middle  of  the  course,  to  be  seen  of  all,  were 
the  victors'  crowns,  garlands  of  wild  olive,  cut  with  a  golden 
sickle  by  a  boy,  both  of  whose  parents  must  be  living,  from  a 
tree  in  the  sacred  grove  of  Altis.  Palm  branches  also  were 
there,  to  be  given  into  the  conqueror's  hands  when  he  received 
the  crown  of  victory.  Rich  and  poor  contended  for  the  mastery 
on  equal  terms,  and  the  prize  was  as  much  desired  by  the  former 
as  by  the  latter.  The  names  of  the  different  contestants  were 
written  on  a  tablet  exposed  to  public  view. 

When  everything  was  ready  for  the  start,  the  judges  exhorted 
all  to  acquit  themselves  manfully  and  nobly,  and  then  gave  the 
signal  to  commence.  The  contestants  sprang  forward  in  the  race. 
Every  nerve  was  strained ;  every  energy  employed.  "  The  cloud 
of  witnesses  "  used  every  encouragement  in  their  power,  these 
favoring  one  competitor,  and  those  another.  As  they  neared  the 
goal,  they  increased  their  efforts.  Sometimes  the  whole  contest 
depended  on  a  single  final  spring  ;  but  even  life  would  be  gladly 
risked  in  such  a  struggle.  *'  Indeed,  one  Ladas,  a  victor  at  the 
Olympic  games,  was  so  exhausted  by  his  efforts  in  the  long  race, 
that  immediately  on  gaining  the  honor  and  being  crowned,  he 
fell  down  dead." 

The  race  once  won,  and  the  joys  of  triumph  followed.  The 
victor  was  crowned  on  a  tripod  of  bronze,  or  on  a  throne  of  ivory 
and  gold.  The  palm  branch  was  given  him.  His  name,  and  that 
of  his  father  and  of  his  country,  were  proclaimed  by  a  herald 
before  the  assembled  representatives  of  Greece.  Loud  plaudits 
came  from  the  delighted  throng.  Ample  reward  was  his  for  all 
the  days  of  privation  in  training,  and  for  the  imminent  hour  of 
struggle  in  the  race.  "  What  intense  and  deep  delight  must  his 
bosom  have  been  filled  with,  when  the  full  acclaim  of  assembled 
Greece  fell  upon  his  ear,  coming  in  loud  salutations  and  applauses 
from  every  part  of  the  crowded  course  !  Then  came  the  more 
private  attentions  of  individual  friends.  One  brought  a  chaplet 
of  flowers ;  another  bound  his  head  with  ribbons.  Afterwards 
came  the  triumphal  sacrifice  made  to  the  twelve  gods,  accom- 
panied by  sumptuous  feasting.     The  poet  now  began  his  office, 


332       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

gaining  in  some  cases,  both  for  himself  and  the  happy  victor, 
an  unexpected  immortality.  Music  also  lent  her  aid,  and  his 
name  was  sung  wherever  the  Greek  language  was  spoken.  In 
order  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  these  great  men,  their  names 
and  achievements  were  entered  in  a  public  register  which  was 
under  the  care  of  suitable  officers.  A  no  less  privilege  was  that 
of  having  a  statue  of  themselves  placed  (either  at  the  expense 
of  the  country  or  their  friends,)  in  the  sacred  grove  of  Jupiter."* 
Victory  in  such  a  race,  and  with  such  resulting  benefits,  was 
deemed  worthy  of  the  best  efforts  and  energies  of  the  best  men 
of  olden  time. 

The  children  are  reminded  that  they  also  are  to  strive  for  a 
crown,  not  of  fading  laurel  but  of  eternal  life,  which  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Judge  of  the  race,  will  give  to  them  at  the  door 
of  Heaven.  That  crown  they  can  gain  only  by  persevering  faith. 
They  m.ust  make  preparation  for  the  race.  They  must  submit 
themselves  obediently  to  all  the  requirements  of  the  course.  At 
the  word, 'they  must  spring  forward ;  and  in  sight  of  "  the  cloud 
of  witnesses,"  they  must  press  on  as  for  their  lives.  And  if  they 
have  the  victory,  they  shall  be  met  with  rejoicings,  when  they  are 
crowned  before  the  throne.  The  very  Angels  of  God  shall  have 
joy  in  their  triumph,  and  they  shall  be  as  pillars  in  the  house  of 
God  forever.'    But  Satan  will  try  to  hinder  them  in  the  race. 

Suppose,  children,  says  the  speaker,  a  person  in  running  this 
race  should  carry  a  heavy  belt  of  gold  around  him.  Would  he  be 
likely  to  gain  the  race?  ^^ No,  sir!''''  Suppose  he  should  hold 
an  armful  of  books  or  pictures  as  he  ran.  Would  he  win.?  "  No, 
sir !  "  Suppose  he  should  often  look  back  to  see  how  far  he  had 
come  ;  or  should  stop  a  minute  to  rest  himself.  Would  he  prob- 
ably have  victory  ?  "A^,  sir  !  "  No,  that  is  true.  Yet  Satan 
is  trying  to  hinder  us  all,  by  loading  us  down  or  stopping  us  in 
some  such  way.  Those  things  with  which  he  hinders  us,  we 
call  besetting  sins.  Let  us  see  what  some  of  these  are.  Cain 
lost  the  race  through  his  besetting  sin.  What  was  that .?  ^^Jeal- 
ousyy  (This  and  the  following  points,  as  they  are  brought  out, 
*  Encyclopedia  Brittanica. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        333 

are  written  on  the  blackboard.)  Gehazi  lost  his  race  through 
another  besetting  sin.  What  was  it  ?  "  Covctotijness.''''  What 
was  the  besetting  sin  of  the  young  ruler  who  came  to  Jesus  ? 
"  Love  of  riches.^''  What  was  that  of  Judas  ?  "  Decettfulness.^'' 
Now,  children,  what  are  yoztr  besetting  sins  ?  sins  that  would 
hinder  you  in  running  the  Christian  race  for  the  crown  of  life. 
At  this  question,  the  children  begin  to  think.  As  there  is  a 
pause  for  the  answer,  solemnity  reigns  in  the  school-room,  with 
its  three  or  four  hundred  scholars.  At  length  a  little  boy  rises, 
in  the  impressive  silence  of  the  place,  and  with  tears  in  his  eyes 
says,  "  Mr.  Reynolds,  my  trouble  is  sivearing.  I  get  mad  some 
times  and  I  swear.  I'm  afraid  Satan  tries  me  in  that  way." 
"  Swearing  "  is  then  written  on  the  board.  Perhaps  a  little  girl 
adds  :  "  Mr.  Reynolds,  I  Uold a  story''  to  my  mother.  I  am  sorry 
for  it,  but  I  think  that's  my  sin."  "  Story-telling  "  is  written 
down.  And  so  the  children  confess  their  faults  one  to  another, 
and  the  confessions  are  written  down,  until  the  board  is  well- 
nigh  covered.  Deep  impressions  are  made.  Eyes  are  filled 
with  tears.  The  board  with  its  dark  record  of  confessions  stands 
out  before  the  school. 


Looking  unto  Jesus. 


Cain —  Jealousy. 
Gehazi —  Covetousness. 
Young  Ruler — Love  of  Riches. 
Judas — Deceitfulness. 


Swearing. 

Story-telling. 

Sabbath-breaking. 

Flaying  truant. 

Disobedience. 

Stealing. 

Deceiving'. 


The  children  look  at  it,  and  their  consciences  reproach  them. 
The  Spirit  of  God  strives  with  young  hearts  at  such  a  time.     Then 


334       THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE. 

the  appeal  is  made  :  Dear  children,  God  sees  this  record  you 
have  put  here^  and  he  knows  a  great  deal  more  than  is  down  on 
the  board,  for  some  of  you  have  committed  sins  which  you  have 
not  been  willing  to  acknowledge  to  me, — but  God  has  written 
them  all  in  his  book  of  remembrance.  Now,  what  will  you  do  ? 
You  cannot  win  the  crown  with  all  these  besetting  sins  to  hinder 
you.  But  see  !  The  Bible  tells  us  of  a  Friend  who  can  rid  you 
of  all  these  hindrances.  Who  is  that  Friend  ?  "  Jesus.''''  Yes, 
Jesus  comes,  and  with  his  own  precious  blood  blots  out  the  hand- 
writing that  is  against  you — wipes  away  all  these  sins';  (as  h« 
says  this,  the  speaker  rubs  out  the  long  catalogue  of  sins,  on  the 
board,)  wipes  them  away  for  all  who  wish  him  to  do  it,  and  who 
will  believe  in  and  trust  him.  Are  you  willing  to  have  him  wipe 
out  all  your  sins  ?     Now  ? 

[This  address,  given  in  full  detail,  and  under  a  sense  of  respon- 
sibility for  precious  souls,  has  been  blessed  of  God  to  the  con- 
version of  many.  At  least  twelve,  at  one  time,  confessed  that 
that  lesson  was  instrumental  to  their  conversion.] 


EXPECT  IMMEDIATE  RESULTS  FROM 
PREACHING. 

The  direct  appeals  to  the  individual  child,  in  the 
address  of  Mr.  Reynolds,  and  the  call,  in  Dr.  Hunting- 
ton's sermon,  to  his  hearers,  to  choose  between  the 
two  armies,  "now  in  the  accepted  time,"  suggest  the 
importance  of  looking  for  speedy  results  from  these 
public  labors  with  the  children.  Little  good,  compara- 
tively speaking,  will  come  of  such  services,  unless  those 
enjoying  them  are  brought  into  submission  to  Christ 
Jesus,  as  their  Lord  and  Redeemer;   and  surely  the 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.        335 

sooner  this  desired  result  is  attained,  the  better.  Not 
all  seed-sowing"  should  be  as  bread  cast  upon  the  wa- 
ters, to  be  found  after  many  days;*  but  some,  who  go 
forth  weeping,  bearing  precious  seed,  should  expect  to 
come  again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  their  sheaves  with 
them,t — not  necessitated  to  leave  to  others  the  precious 
harvest  gathering.  In.  young  hearts  in  almost  every 
congregation,  the  seed  has  been  already  long  sown, 
and  watered  with  prayer  and  tears.  Only  the  removal 
by  loving  hands  of  hindering  or  obscuring  doubts  and 
anxieties,  is  necessary  to  show,  already  developed, 
the  blade,  or  the  ear,  or  perhaps  the  full  corn  in  the 
ear. 

There  are  secret  disciples  of  Jesus  among  the  little 
ones,  needing  encouragement  to  tell  of  their  confiding 
love  for  him.  There  are  children  who,  like  Saul  of 
Tarsus,  having  been  called  of  God,  have  asked  in 
faith,  "Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do.'"'$  and 
now  wait  with  closed  eyes,  in  "the  street  which  is 
called  Straight,"  for  Ananias  to  come  and  show  them 
more  clearly  their  duty  and  privileges.  And  there 
are  others,  who  lack  only  the  word  of  the  man  of  God 
to  themselves  personally,  as  Nathan's  "  Thou  art  the 
man ! "  to  the  guilty  king,  to  cause  them  to  see  their 
peril  and  need.  Class  teaching  or  pulpit  preaching 
often  fails  of  its  proper  effect,  because  it  is  unappro- 
priated. Sometimes,  as  quaint  John  Newton  says,  it  is 
like  "  a  letter  put  into  a  post-office  without  any  direc- 
tion.    It  is  addressed  to  nobody,  it  is  owned  by  no- 

*  Eccl.  xi.  I.  t  Psalms  cxxvi.  6,  i  Acts  ix.  6. 


33^     THE  children's  preaching  service. 

body,  and  if  a  hundred  people  were  to  read  it,  not  one 
would  think  himself  concerned  in  its  contents."  And 
again  it  needs  to  be  so  pressed  to  the  individual  con- 
science of  the  hearer,  as  to  leave  no  doubt  as  to  its  ap- 
plication. And  those  who  have  faith  that  God  will 
bless  the  prayerful  preaching  of  his  word,  and  bless  it 
now,  are  most  likely  to  receive  a  speedy  reward  of 
their  labors.  For  God  honors  faith,  and  loves  to  give 
best  gifts  to  those  who  expect  him  to  do  so. 

Doubtless,  no  small  part  of  the  results  for  good  of 
the  preaching  of  prominent  evangelistic  laborers  among 
children,  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  faith  of  these  men 
that  God  will  bless  their  work,  at  once.  Other  men 
have  labored,  a.nd  these  propose  to  enter  into  their 
labors.  The  field  has  been  long  white  to  the  harvest, 
but  there  has  been  no  attempt,  in  faith,  to  reap,  until 
now.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Superintendents  and  Sec- 
retaries' Association,  of  London,  a  year  ago,  when  re- 
ports came  in  from  various  quarters  of  the  value  of 
the  preaching  services  of  the  Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond, 
one  brother  remarked,  that  "  He  believed  the  success 
of  Mr.  Hammond  was  attributable  to  the  fact  that  he 
worked  heartily,  expecting  the  blessing  of  God."  A 
letter  was  then  read  from  Mr.  Hammond,  "in  which 
he  expressed  the  belief  that  if  the  means  were  used, 
and  earnest  believing  prayer  offered  to  God,  'tens  of 
thousands  of  children '  might  be  converted."  The 
chairman  of  the  meeting,  F.  J.  Hartley,  added  the 
suggestion,  that  while  the  teachers  in  Sunday-schools 
had  been  looking  for  fruit,  one  had  come  among  them 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.       337 

expecting  the  blessing,  and  had  secured  it.*  If  minis- 
ters and  superintendents  who  object  to  the  introduction 
of  evangehsts  to  their  fields,  or  who  question  the  pro- 
priety of  some  of  the  modes  of  such  workers,  would 
themselves  go  to  the  children  in  personal  inquiry  and 
appeal,  after  preaching  to  or  teaching  them,  and  this 
in  full  and  prayerful  expectancy  of  immediate  results, 
it  is  probable  that  the  highest  good  would  be  attained 
without  the  intervention  of  any  doubtful  expedients. 

CHILDREN'S  INQUIRY  AND  PRAYER 
MEETINGS. 

Some  of  the  most  successful  workers  among  chil- 
dren, seldom  or  never  preach  to  them  without  holding 
an  inquiry  meeting  at  the  close  of  the  service — a  meet- 
ing at  which  the  children  may  be  separately  addressed 
and  counseled,  by  intelligent  followers  of  Christ  The 
prominence  which  efforts  of  this  character  have  ob- 
tained, indicates  the  readiness  of  the  church  to  avail 
itself  of  such  an  agency.  God  has  seemingly  prepared 
the  way  by  his  Spirit  and  providences  for  this  mode  of 
working  to  bring  little  ones  into  his  fold. 

There  has  been  a  felt  want  of  personal  contact  of 
the  preacher  with  the  soul  preached  to. 

Says  Dr.  Duryea,  in  pressing  the  advantages  enjoyed 
by  the  Sunday-school  teacher,  "  While  the  minister  is 
teaching  all  about  the  gospel,  here  is  a  soul  that  wants 
a  direct  application  of  the  gospel.  The  religious 
teaching  from  the  pulpit  is  not  sufficient.     There  must 

*  London  S.  S.  Times,  Sept.  13,  1867. 
15 


338     THE  children's  preaching  service. 

be  a  special  teaching,  mouth  to  ear,  mind  to  mind, 
heart  to  heart.  Just  as  a  student  of  medicine  may 
want  to  lecture  on  medicine,  but  a  sick  man  knowing 
his  sickness,  wants  a  prescription,  so  the  Christian 
student  may  want  a  lecture  on  religion,  but  he  wants 
again  and  again  a  prescription  for  his  soul."*  And 
while  the  minister  has  thus  prized  the  privileges  of  the 
class  teacher,  that  teacher  has  not  been  without  a  long- 
ing for  yet  other  advantages  in  his  efforts  to  win  the 
young  to  Jesus.  "  Many  a  zealous  Sunday-school 
teacher,"  says  an  English  worker  on  Mr.  Hammond's 
plan,  t  "has  doubtless  often  felt  tlie  need  of  something 
supplementary  to  the  ordinary  class  teaching  and  school 
services — something  calculated  to  give  every  scholar  a 
medium  of  sympathy  and  heart  contact  with  his  teacher. 
He  has  felt  sure  that  there  were  some  dear  scholars  in 
his  class  who  were  secret  disciples  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
and  others  whose  minds  were  evidently  impressed  with 
divine  truth ;  and  often  has  he  longed  for  some  kind  of 
magnet,  so  to  speak,  which  would  ....  irresistibly  draw 
forth  from  the  anxious  a  candid  confession  of  their  state 
of  mind.  .  .  .  There  is  about  our  present  Sunday-school 
system  an  amount  of,  perhaps  necessary,  order  and  for- 
mality, which  prevents  him  from  seeing  the  fruit  of  his 
labors,  and  fails  to  give  him  an  opportunity  of  eliciting 
what  impressions  have  been  made  on  the  minds  of  his 
scholars."  He  then  argues  in  favor  of  the  children's 
meetings  instituted  by  Mr.  Hammond,  and  adduces  rea- 

*  Report  of  New  York  S.  S.  Institute,  p  137- 
t  London  S.  S.  Times  July  26,  1867. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    PREACHING    SERVICE.       339 

sons  for  believing  "  that  in  these  children's  services  and 
inquiry  meetings,  is  to  be  found  the  long  'missing  link.'  " 

The  meetings  thus  commended,  are  more  fully  de- 
scribed, as  follows :  * 

"  The  services  are  held  in  the  school-room  of  Surrey 
Chapel  [Newman  Hall's],  on  Sunday  evening,  at  half- 
past  six,  and  on  Tuesday  evening  at  seven.  On  Sun- 
day the  attendance  averages  about  three  hundred,  and 

would  be  larger  if  all  applicants  were  admitted 

On  Tuesday  there  are  generally  from  one  hundred  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty,  and  occasionally  as  many  as  one 
hundred  and  fifty In  conducting  these  meet- 
ings the  aim  has  been  to  make  them  as  varied  and  in- 
teresting as  possible,  and  to  bring  all  the  exercises 
down  to  the  capacity  of  the  children.  The  prayers' 
and  addresses  are  exceedingly  short  and  simple.  There 
is  plenty  of  singing,  and  the  tunes  are  lively,  many  of 
the  hymns  having  a  chorus 

"  But  the  characteristic  feature  of  the  services,  and 
the  one  which  we  think  has  been  most  productive  of 
good,  is  that  which  is  called,  for  want,  I  think,  of  a 
better  name,  the  'Inquiry  Meeting.' f  At  the  close  of 
the  preliminary  meeting,  an  invitation  is  given  to  the 
'children  who  love  Jesus,  and  those  who  want  to  love 
Jesus '  to  remain  behind,  that  the  teachers  may  talk  to 
them  and  pray  with  them.  ,  About  half— or  sometimes 
two-thirds — will  stop,  and  the  rest  leave  while  a  hymn 
is  being  sung.     The  teachers  and  friends  present  then 

♦London  S.  8.  Times,  May  8,  1868. 

t  This  familiar  American  title  seems  to  strike  the  English  mind  unfavorably. 


340     THE  children's  preaching  service. 

gather  classes  round  them,  and,  without  taking  any 
formal  lesson  or  subject,  speak  to  the  children  simply 
and  earnestly  about  heavenly  things,  and  strive  to  im- 
press on  them  individually  and  personally  the  duty  of 
giving  their  hearts  to  the  Saviour.  There  is  not  much 
order  or  arrangement  about  these  classes — teachers 
speak  to  the  children  nearest  them,  or  to  any  they  may 
see — but  those  who  come  regularly  often  get  the  same 
children  from  week  to  week." 

The  most  satisfactory  results  are  reported  from  simi- 
lar meetings  in  other  parts  of  Great  Britain,  and  like 
services  have  been  richly  blessed  in  various  portions 
of  this  country.  Such  an  agency,  coming  thus  ap- 
proved, should  not  be  lightly  passed  by  by  those  desir- 
ing greatest  good  to  the  children. 

House  and  Pardee  and  other  prominent  American 
writers  on  Sunday-school  themes,  commend,  warmly, 
regular  prayer-meetings  for  the  children,  and  many 
pastors  and  superintendents  make  much  of  them. 
"  Some  of  our  Sabbath-schools,"  says  Pardee,  "  hold 
such  a  meeting  at  the  close  of  each  afternoon  session." 
The  boys  and  girls  being  in  separate  rooms,  under 
leaders  of  their  own  sex,  respectively,  "the  meeting 
opens  with  singing  a  familiar  hymn,  and  then  a  few 
appropriate  verses  and  remarks  just  adapted  to  kindle 
devotion  in  the  little  hearts,  and  then  the  little  prayers 
follow  freely  and  almost  spontaneously.  They-  soon 
learn  to  love  to  pray,  and  pray  in  real  faith  too,  for  the 
whole  life  of  a  little  child  is  a  life  of  faith."  * 

*  S.  S.  Index,  p.  20, 


THE    children's    PREACHING    SERVICE.       34I 

In  some  churches  at  the  West,  an  organization  known 
as  "The  Faithful  Band,"  gathers'  young  beUevers  for 
culture  in  the  Christian  life.  This  resembles  the 
Methodist  class-meeting  in  its  main  features,  and 
serves  as  a  training  school  for  youthful  disciples,  di- 
recting them  in  active  effort  for  other  souls,  while  aid- 
ing them  in  the  cultivation  of  grace  in  their  own  re- 
newed hearts.* 

Thus,  in  various  ways,  the  children  are  finding 
their  proper  place  in  the  temple,  and  their  part  in  all 
its  services.  Through  Bible  study  and  recitation,  in 
prayer  and  praise,  as  listeners  to  the  preached  word 
and  to  its  application  to  their  individual  consciences, 
as  helpers  of  each  other  in  the  divine  life,  and  as 
workers  together  with  each  other  and  with  Jesus,  they 
are  being  won  to  the  Redeemer,  and  upreared  in  his 
service.  So  are  being  answered  the  prayer  of  the 
Psalmist,  and  of  so  many  who  have  come  after  him : 
"That  our  sons  may  be  as  plants  grown  up  in  their 
youth;  that  our  daughters  may  be  as  corner-stones, 
polished  after  the  similitude  of  a  palace."  t 

*  See  House's  S.  S.  Hand  Book,  p.  123-127.  t  Psalms  cxliv.  12. 


APPENDIX. 


Additional  historical  notes  as  to  church  care  for  children,  and  religious 
services  for  their  benefit,  which  could  not  well  be  inserted  in  the  body  of  the 
work,  are  here  appended,  as  is  also  a  list  of  books  for  the  benefit  of  those  at- 
tempting to  lead  children's  religious  meetings. 

Worship  by  the  Young  in  the  Schools  of  the  Prophets.  A  school 
thus  formed  is  referred  to  undoubtedly  in  the  First  Book  of  Samuel,  situated 
near  the  holy  tabernacle.  Samuel  when  quite  young  was  placed  and  educated 
at  this  school,  received  while  there  a  call  from  heaven,  and  became  a  prophet 
of  the  Lord.  Previously  to  this  time  according  to  Jahn,  "there  had  been  many 
other  schools  of  this  kind,  which  had  fallen  into  discredit,  but  which  were  re- 
stored again  by  the  prophet  Samuel,  after  whose  time  the  members  of  the  sem- 
inaries in  question,  who  were  denominated  by  way  of  distinction,  the  Sons  of 
the  Prophets,  acquired  no  little  notoriety."  One  of  these  seminaries  was  at 
Naioth,  a  suburb  of  Ramah,  where   Samuel  lived ;  another  was  at  Bethel ; 

another  at  Gilgal,  and  others  perhaps  at  Jericho  and  Jerusalem "It  is 

pretty  evident,"  says  Dr.  J.  P.  Smith,  "from  various  intimations,  that  some 
eminent  persons,  such  as  Samuel  or  Elijah  presided  over  them,  and  undertook 
the  charge  of  communicating  instruction  to  these  young  persons."  .... 
Among  the  ancient  Israelites,  it  was  a  common  practice  in  se^ons  of  worship 
to  chant  .their  prayers  and  praises,  accompanied  by  instruments.  This  music 
was  a  source  of  high  national  enjo3Tnent,  and  the  taste  for  it  probably  was 

perfected,  if  not  formed,  at  these  schools This  singing  or  chanting  by 

the  whole  school  is  called  in  the  "SiOxv^iwr?^  prophesying ;  as  when  Saul  sent 
messengers  to  arrest  David,  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  school  at  Ramah. 
.  i  .  .  "And  when  they  saw  the  company  of  prophets  prophesying,  and  Samuel 
standing  as  appointed  over  them,  the  Spirit  of  God  was  upon  the  messengers 
of  Saul,  and  they  also  prophesied ; " — that  is,  united  with  Samuel  and  the  whole 
school  in  the  recitation  or  chanting  of  some  sacred  composition  in  praise  of  the 
wisdom  and  wonderful  works  of  Jehovah In  this  kind  of  prophesying 


344  APPENDIX.  • 

or  chanting,  the  whole  school  were  initiated  and  constantly  practiced.  By  this 
means  much  sacred  thought  and  wisdom  was  committed  to  memory,  made 
popular  by  recitation  and  widely  diffused.  iThe  History  of  Sunday  Schools, 
By  Lewis  G.  Pray,  Chap.  iv. 

Care  of  Children  by  Ministers  in  the  Early  Church.  No  sooner 
had  their  Master  ascended  ....  than  they  [the  Apostles]  entered  upon  the 
great  work  of  evangelization.  They  commenced  it  by  public  teaching — by 
preaching  the  Gospel  everywhere ;  . .  .  .  and  so  different  was  the  notice  which 
they  took  of  the  young  from  the  course  of  all  previous  prophets  or  teachers, 
that  we  can  ascribe  it,  without  hesitation,  to  the  example  of  their  ascended 
Master  ....  Paul  ....  teaches  in  more  than  one  of  his  epistles  [preaching  di- 
rectly to  the  young]  "Children,  obey  your  parents  in  the  Lord  for  this  is  right." 
....  Peter  also  ....  addressing  himself  particularly  to  children,  adds,  "Ye 
younger,  submit  yourselves  unto  the  elder."  ....  And  so  ....  John,  ....  how 
beautifully  he  writes  on  the  subject !  "I  write  unto  you  little  children,  because 
your  sins  are  forgiven  you  for  his  name's  sake."     \_Ibid.  p.  41. 

children's  worship  commended  in  the  se-cond  century. 
Shepherd  of  tender  youth  ! 
Guiding  in  love  and  truth, 
Through  devious  ways. 
Christ,  our  triumphant  king  ! 
We  come  thy  name  to  sing, 
A  nd  here  our  children  bring. 
To  shout  thy  praise. 
\,Translated  from  a  Greek  Hyinn  of  demerit  of  Alexandria  about  A.  D.  200. 

Children's  Claims  Never  Wholly  Ignored  by  the  Church.  In 
the  first  few  centuries  of  the  Christian  era,  the  church  provided  for  the  young 
of  its  charge  by  the  Catechumenical  Schools.  Even  during  the  Dark  Ages, 
from  the  fourth  to  the  twelfth  centuries.  Cathedral  and  Conventual  Schools, 
and,  later,  the  schools  of  the  Universities,  secured  at  least  nominal  religious 
instruction,  directly  from  the  church,  to  the  young. 

Indeed,  all  study  of  church  history  shows  clearly,  that  the  Christian  church 
has  never  fallen  so  low  as  to  formally  deny  the  children's  claim  to*a  place  in 
the  temple,  and  a  share  in  its  pulpit  ministrations,  and  that  where  spiritual 
life  has  been  fullest,  there  those  claims  have  been  most  clearly  recognized. 
Children's  worship,  and  Sunday  teaching  of  the  children  by  the  church,  have 
had  no  begitming-  since  the  days  of  Jesus. 

Bible  Teaching  and  Recitations  among  the  Waldenses,  in  the 
Thirteenth  Century.  From  a  very  early  period  of  their  history,  the  Vaudois 
have  been  distinguished  for  the  attention  which  they  have  given  to  education. 
....  According  to  the  statements  made  by  Reinerius  [in  the  thirteenth  century,] 


APPENDIX.  345 

in  his  work  against  them,*  they  had  anciently  something  like  a  system  of 
mutual  education,  and  devoted  much  of  their  time  to  the  work,  "  He  who  has 
been  a  disciple  for  seven  days  looks  out  some  one  whom  he  may  teach  in  his 
turn,  so  that  there  is  a  continual  increase.  If  any  one  would  excuse  himself 
they  say  to  him :  Only  learn  one  word  every  day,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  you 

will  have  three  hundred,  and  so  make  progress I  have  heard  one  of 

those  poor  peasants  repeat  the  whole  book  of  Job  by  heart  without  missing  a 
single  word  ;  and  there  are  others  who  have  the  whole  of  the  New  Testament 
at  their  fingers'  ends The  Vaudois  know  the  whole  of  Ihe  New  Testa- 
ment by  heart,  and  much  of  the  Old ;  nor  ....  will  they  listen  to  anything 
else,  saying  that  all  sermons  which  are  not  proved  by  Scripture,  are  unworthy 
of  belief."     [The  Vaudois,  Hendersot, p.  102..     Lojtdon,  iZ^i. 

Ignatius  Loyola's  Jesuit   Schools,  in  the    Sixteenth   Century. 

Only  seven  years  had  elapsed  [1546]  since  the  foundation  of  the  Society 

One  thing  was  hitherto  wanting,  great  in  itself,  but  greater  still  in  its  endless 
consequences  to  the  Company  and  to  men.  I  allude  to  the  puhlic  instruction 
of  youth.  On  this  foundation  the  Jesuits  will  build  their  fortress  of  influence. 
Youth  will  be  trained  to  love,  to  admire  their  teachers,  and  the  Company  to 
which  these  teachers  belong ;  for  the  Jesuit  method  will  be  one  of  fascination — 
a  heart-penetrating,  bewitching  inculcation — full  of  sweets  and  flowers,  natural 

and  artificial — all  that  the  young  love  dearly  and  parents  love  to  see 

The  rising  generation  will  thus  be  in  her  interest ;  and,  therefore,  in  process  of 
time  the  risen  generation  will  not  be  against  her,  but  will  rather  fill  her  schools 
with  another,  and  so  on  for  ever 

The  morals  of  youth  were  formed  and  promoted  as  follows :  .  .  .  .  the  pu- 
pils were  to  hear  mass  daily,  and  go  to  confession  every  month At  the 

commencement  of  class-hours,  all  should  recite  a  devout  prayer,  to  beg  the 
grace  of  profiting  by  their  studies.  Once  a  week  they  should  be  catechised  in 
the  doctrines  of  faith,  and  the  principles  of  morality.  In  addition  to  this,  the 
masters  were  to  take  every  opportunity,  in  and  out  of  class,  to  converse 
familiarly  with  their  pupils  on  religious  matters.  \_Stei7vmetz' s  History  of  th& 
Jesuits,  Vol.  I.  pp.  346-50. 

Carlo  Borromeo's  Idea  of  Priestly  Responsibility  for  Children, 
1560-84.  The  number  of  schools  and  seminaries  which  he  founded  is  almost 
incredible ;  740  schools  with  3,040  teachers  and  40,098  scholars  are  recorded. 
It  was  his  theory  that  every  child  belonged  to  the  church,  and  the  priest  had 
special  care  of  the  souls  of  children.  And  while  he  in  no  degree  abated  the 
splendor  of  the  metropolitan  ritual,  and  left  the  choir  of  the  cathedral  that 
marvel  of  magnificence  which  it  still  remains,  he  would  have  its  institutions  of 
religious  training  only  the  centre  of  a  system  which  should  penetrate  the 
remotest  parts  of  his  diocese,  so  that  the  poorest  boy  in  the  entire  district  might 

*  Rein.  De  Haret,  p.  300. 
I   * 


34^  •  APPENDIX. 

reach  the  highest  doctor's  place  In  the  metropolitan  chapter.  Neglect  of 
teaching  was  to  him  a  graver  offense  than  neglect  of  prayer,  when  he  took 
account  of  his  priesthood.     {New  A  merican  Cyclopedia. 

Romish  Zeal  for  Youth  in  Bohemia  stimulated  by  Lutheran 
Faithfulness.  On  the  i6th  of  August,  1584,  the  curate  Erhard,  by  advice  of 
Cardoneus,  drew  up  Latin  regulations  for  the  future  conduct  ot  the  curate  of 
Nicolsburg.  In  which  ....  "the  clergy  are  ....  reminded  that  it  is  their 
solemn  duty  .  •  ^  •  diligently  to  teach  Canisius'  catechism  to  the  young,  and  in- 
sist upon  their  regular  attendance  at  church ;  for  since  the  Luthera->ts  are  so 
diligent  to  instil  into  their  children  their  abominable  doctrines,  the  Catholic 
clergy  ought  not  to  be  behind  them  in  zeal."  {^The  Reformation  and  Anti- 
Reformation  in  Bohemia,  p.  121.     London,  1845. 

Revival  among  Moravian  Children,  1727.  The  same  grace  which  the 
congregation  had  experienced  on  the  13th  of  August,  their  children  experienced 
hkewise.  There  appeared,  already  on  the  26th  of  May,  1727,  the  first  emo- 
tions in  their  hearts,  by  occasion  of  a  discourse  which  the  Count  [ZInzendorf] 
delivered  in  the  ceconomy  of  girls  in  the  house  of  Baron  De  Watteville  at  Ber- 
tholdsdorf.  ....  This  emotion  was  the  more  joyous  to  him,  as  he  had  hith- 
erto been  deeply  concerned  on  account  of  the  evident  want  of  spiritual  life  in 
their  hearts. 

But  the  real  and  abiding  awakening  of  these  children  did  not  take  place  till 
the  17th  of  August^  which  arose  from  the  testimony  of  a  simple  brother, 
Grumpe,vj\\om.  the  Count  had  sent  to  Bertholdsdorf  in  June  the  same  year,  to 
instruct  them  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion.  In  the  meantime,  the 
memorable  work  of  grace  in  the  soul  of  a  girl  of  eleven  years,  proved  on  the 
6th  of  August,  the  occasion  of  the  beginning  of  an  extraordinary  awakening 
among  some- girls  who  lived  with  their  parents  at  Hermhut,  which  had  also  a 
great  influence  upon  those  at  Bertholdsdorf,  and  upon  their  parents  and  the 
rest  of  tlfe  inhabitants.  On  the  29th  of  August  these  children  were  heard 
praying  on  the  Hutberg  with  such  fervor,  tears,  and  singing  of  hymns,  that,  as 
it  is  related  in  the  diary  of  Hermhut,  "it  is  impossible  to  describe  it  in  words." 
They  entered  at  the  same  time  into  a  covenant  together,  that  they  would  be 
the  endre  property  of  our  Saviour.  It  is  worthy  of  being  taken  notice  of,  as 
something  particular,  that  though  the  most  powerful  emotions  in  children  are 
apt  to  die  away  as  they  advance  in  years,  yet  none  of  these  children  ever  broke 
their  covenant ;  and  most  of  them  became  blessed  handmaids  of  Jesus  in  the 
congregation  of  the  Brethren. 

There  was  also,  during  this  period,  a  great  emotion  and  awakening  among 
the  little  boys  at  Hermhut:  yet  this  had  not  such  blessed  consequences,  or 
such  an  abiding  fruit  as  attended  the  awakening  among  the  girls.  [History  of 
the  Brethren,  by  David  Cranz,  p.  119.     London,  1780. 

Children's  Meeting  in  Penn.,  1829.  A  worthy  clergyman  in  Pennsylva- 
nia writes :  "  The  monthly  concert  of  prayer  for  the  heathen,  and  for  Sabbath- 


APPENDIX.  >  347 

schools,  are  interesting  seasons  among  us.  When  we  came  here  they  were 
nearly  run  down.  I  commenced  giving  information  and  relating  anecdotes  ap- 
propriate to  each  of  these  occasions.  I  require  the  children  at  the  next  concert 
for  Sabbath-schools  to  relate  what  was  said  at  the  last.  In  this  way  not  only 
have  the  children  become  interested,  but  also  the  parents  and  the  teachers. 
The  last  meeting  was  held  in  the  church,  the  session  house  would  not  hold 
them.  Many  were  in  tears.  Only  let- ministers  of  the  Gospel  do  their  duty, 
and  Sabbath  schools  will  flourish  wherever  ministers  are  found,  and  the  concerts 
of  prayer  will  be  well  attended."     \_New  yersey  S.  S.  yojtrnal,  Dec,  1829. 

Services  for  Children  in  Boston,  1834-5.  Religious  services  appropri- 
ate to  children  are  still  continued,  morning  and  afternoon*  at  the  Friend  St. 
Chapel.  There  are  generally  from  one  hundred  and  twenty  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  children  present.  Many  of  the  parents  attend  with  the  children,  and 
seem  much  pleased ;  in  the  visits  to  them,  they  often  speak  of  their  children's 
interest  in  these  services.  Though  we  may  not  have  accomplished  all  that  we 
could  wish,  and  cannot  present  to  view  all  we  could  desire,  yet  we  have  had 
much  to  encourage  us;  and  have  become  each  Sabbath  more  and  more  im- 
pressed with  the  importance  of  these  services  and  the  good  that  may  result 
firom  them.  .  .  .  The  field  for  usefulness  in  this  respect  is  great,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  the  plain  and  simple  manner  adopted  of  illustrating  religious  truth 
may  in  some  cases  produce  that  happy  result,  which  is  so  earnestly  to  be 
desired.  .  .  . 

Rev.  Mr.  Wright  is  employed  by  the  Society  for  the  Moral  and  Religious 
Education  of  the  Poor.  He  is  effecting  a  great  deal  of  good  at  West  Boston. 
His  congregation  of  children  in  the  morning  and  afternoon  of  the  Sabbath  is 
very  large.     \_Report  of  the  Minister s-at- Large,     1835. 

Worship  for  Children,  Nismes,  France,  1846.  Although  the  instruc- 
tion given  to  the  catechumens  is  extensive,  regular,  and  varied,  according  to 
their  differeat  degrees  of  intelligence,  the  Consistory  has  nevertheless  thought 
that  it  was  insufficient ;  and  the  means  which  they  have  adopted  to  secure  a 
more  solid  development  of  their  religious  character  has  been  the  establishment 
of  a  religious  service  adapted  to  the  young,  celebrated  on  every  Wednesday,  at 
the  small  temple,  at  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.  [Translation  from  French  Re- 
port, by  Pray. 

English  Plan  for  Children's  Services,  1847.  In  lieu  of  the  adult 
public  service,  it  would  be  well  to  hold  at  the  same  time,  every  Sabbath  morn- 
ing, a  separate  religious  service  for  children,  adapted  to  their  tender  capacities. 
The  children  should  have  a  sermon  preached  to  them  by  a  regularly  appointed 
party ;  a  text  should  be  taken  and  a  discourse  delivered,  matter,  manner,  and 
style  suited  to  their  infantile  minds  :  but  even  at  this  juvenile  service  the  small- 
est children  should  not  be  present ;  the  infa^tts  should  be  taught  in  a  separate 
room  by  an  infant  teacher,  as  preaching  of  any  sort  is  an  unsuitable  mode  of 
instruction  for  very  little  children.     There  is  no  objection,  on  the  conlrary  a 


348 


APPENDIX. 


great  advantage,  in  two  or  three  schools  taught  in  the  same  vicinity,  meeting,  if 
convenient,  at  the  appointed  hour,  in  one  central  spot,  that  all  may  share  in 
the  same  service.  As  preaching  is  God's  appointed  means  for  spreading  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  as  more  souls  have  been  brought  to  Jesus  through 
its  instrumentality  than  by  all  other  agencies, — for  "it  hath  pleased  God, 
through  the  foolishness  of  preaching,  to  save  those  who  believe " — we  assert 
'that  preaching  to  children  in  a  style  which  they  can  understand  must  be  pro- 
ductive of  good  to  them,  and  results  must  follow  Its  general  adoption  that  shall 
cause  the  hearts  of  parents  and  teachers  to  sing  for  joy.  \_The  Sunday  School, 
by  Louisa  Davids,  p.  225. 

Another  Plea  for  Separate  Services.  Services  adapted  to  children 
can  alone  be  expected  to  beget  among  the  young  the  habit  of  attending  public 
worship.  .  .  .  Separate  services  can  alone  speak  with  children  to  God,  or  speak 
for  God  to  children.  .  .  .  There  is  no  abstract  or  absolute  God's  house.  .  .  . 
God's  house  is  that  spot  or  structure  which  to  our  hearts  is  a  meeting-place 
with  God.  The  building  which  is  "amiable"  to  the  Christian  through  associ- 
ations of  God's  presence  therewith,  is  not  lovely  to  the  mind  that  has  not  con- 
nected with  it  corresponding  thoughts.  '[^''Separate  Services,''^  by  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Martin,  West-minster,  Eng. 

Call  for  a  Children's  Chapel.  Since  the  institution  of  the  Sunday- 
school  system,  what  wonderful  changes  has  this  progressive  principle  wrought ! 
....  All  these  changes  we  owe  to  this  same  principle,  which  now,  in  this  age 
of  earnest  thought,  advances  with  steady  step,  and  asks,  as  a  matter  of  con- 
sistency, a  separate  service  for  young  children ;  and  as  a  matter  of  convenience 
and  economy,  in  some  places,  a  Children's  Chapel.  .  .  .  The  object  we  have  in 
view  is  to  make  the  Sabbath  a  delight,  and  that  the  whole  of  it  may  be  so,  this 
substitute  for  the  ordinary  public  worship  is  proposed.  So  popular  Is  this  sepa- 
rate service,  that  elder  children  beg  hard  to  stay.  On  every  hand  the  prejudice 
against  it  is  giving  way,  and  many  ministers  are  not  only  consenting  to  Its  adop- 
tion, but  taking  their  turn  in  Its  performance,  becoming,  like  the  venerable 
Charles  of  Bala,  as  "  children  for  the  children's  sake ;  "  or,  as  the  tender-hearted 
Doddridge,  who  said,  "  I  am  not  ashamed  of  these  little  services,  for  I  had 
rather  feed  the  lambs  of  Christ  than  rule  a  kingdom."  ["  The  Infant  Class." 
By  Charles  Reed,  Hackney,  Eng.,  p.  84-96. 

"Children's  Church"  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  1S61-3.  During  the 
two  years  we  occupied  the  City  Hall  we  carried  on  a  special  service,  which  was 
soon  attended  by  about  five  hundred.  This  was  conducted  not  as  a  Sabbath- 
school,  but  as  a  children's,  church,  and  was  wondrously  helpful  in  training  the 
children  into  church-going  habits,  and  bridging  the  chasm  between  the  school 
and  the  church.  This  service  became  very  popular.  Conductors  of  Sabbath- 
schools  frequently  visited  it,  and  In  a  short  time  nearly  sixty  similar  though 
smaller  meetings  were  organized  throughout  the  city.  Some  of  the  children, 
above  twelve  years  of  age,  v/ere  trained  as  a  visitation  agency,  after  the  model 


APPENDIX.  349 

of  our  adult  method,  and  thus  about  thirty  of  these  young  visitors  would  issue 
after  morning  service  and  bring  in  children  from  the  houses  and  the  streets. 

This  service  continues  now Various  office-bearers  and   Sabbath-school 

teachers  take  part.  They  meet  still  at  two  o'clock,  but  in  the  hall  under  the 
church,  and  we  hear  the  young  voices  rising  in  their  happy  hymns  and  ming- 
ling faintly  with  our  service  aboVe.  Parents  often  leave  their  children  there, 
and  get  them  as  they  leave.     [MaccolPs  "  A  mong-  the  Masses"  p.  355. 

Separate  Services  for  Children  in  London,  1868.  At  the  meeting 
of  the  London  S.  S.  Superintendents  and  Secretaries'  Association,  Aug.  28, 
1868,  the  subject  for  discussion  was,  "  What  means  might  be  used  to  induce 
the  youthful  class  more  generally  to  devote  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath  to 
religious  objects." 

Mr.  C.  A.  Comyn  opened  the  question.  The  best  antidote  to  the  evil 
appeared  to  him  to  be  the  establishment  of  juvenile  Sunday-evening  services 

for  worship The  hymn-book  decided  upon  should  not  be  too  childish,  and 

a  number  of  Bibles  should  be  provided  for  the  use  of  those  who  might  come 
unprovided  with  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures.  The  prayers  should  be  short  and 
clothed  in  the  simplest  language,  but  above  all  things  they  should  be  prayers 
•with  and  notybrthe  congregation;  not,  "  Bless  these  dear  children,  bless  their 
parents  and  friends,"  but,  "  Bless  us,  our  parents  and  friends."  All  peculiar 
figurative  expressions  as  "giving  their  hearts  to  God,  and  themselves  to  His 
people,"  should  be  reduced  to  their  meaning  of  conversion,  change  of  dispo- 
sition, and  active  service.  Scriptural  truths  should  be  explained  in  the  ordi- 
nary phraseology  of  the  day.  The  readmg  should  be  natural  and  without 
affectation.  A  few  of  the  older  boys  and  girls  should  be  sekcted  to  form  a 
choir.     The  hymns,  portions  of  Scripture,  and  addresses,  should  be  arranged 

so  as  to  bear  upon  one  idea  or  lesson The  order  of  service  adopted  by 

the  East  London  Auxiliary  and  which  was  found  eminently  successful .  .  . 
was  divided  into  two  parts.  The  first  was  taken  by  the  superintendent,  who 
had  his  separate  and  distinct  table  on  a  level  with  the  congregation,  and  the 
second  part  by  the  teacher  who  officiated  as  minister,  and  who  had  his  desk  on 
a  slightly  raised  platform  behind.  The  doors  were  opened  at  about  a  quartef 
or  half-past  six,  and  at  a  quarter  to  seven.  Bibles,  &c.,  having  been  previously 
distributed,  a  call-bell  was  touched  as  a  signal  for  silence.  The  time  devoted 
to  the  service  was  thus  apportioned :  The  superintendent  after  kneehng  for 
a  minute  or  two  in  silent  prayer,  announced  the  opening  hymn.  Singing 
hymn,  about  five  minutes.  Readmg  a  psalm,  the  superintendent  and  congre- 
gation reading  alternate  verses  (congregation  sitting),  seven  minutes.  Gloria 
Patri,  Sic,  chanted,  standing,  one  minute.  Prayer  and  thanksgiving  by  the 
superintendent  kneehng,  the  congregation  sittmg,  five  minutes.  Hymn  sung, 
all  standing,  five  minutes.  First  lesson  from  Oid  Testament,  by  superin- 
tendent, five  minutes.  Hymn  chanted,  all  standmg,  three  minutes.  Second 
lesson  fi-om   New  Testament  by  minister  or   superintendent,  five  minutes. 


350  APPENDIX. 

Hymn  sung,  all  standing,  five  minutes.  Very  short  prayer  for  wisdom,  atten- 
tion, etc.,  by  minister,  one  minute.  Address  by  minister,  twenty  to  twenty- 
five  minutes.  Hymn  sung,  five  minutes.  Prayer  and  benediction  by  minister, 
three  minutes.  The  books  were  then  collected  and  the  congregation  dispersed. 
A  service,  thoroughly  diversified,  thus  occupied  about  an  hour  and  a  quarter. 
^London  S.  S.  Times,  Sept.  4,  1868. 

Western  Advocacy  of  Children's  Church.    The  time  of  holding  these 

services  cannot  be  determined  by  any  fixed  rule I  would  only  stipulate 

for  this  as  an  essential,  viz :  that  it  be  in  lieu  of  an  ordinary  service  of  the 
church ;  and  that  children  and  congregation  all  understand  that  this  is  a  com- 
mon and  regular  church  service.  Any  other  course  is  very  likely  to  defeat  one 
of  the  good  purposes  of  such  meetings,  [that  of]  identifying  the  children  with 
the  ordinances  of  God's  house.  The  right  place  for  the  children's  church,  is 
the  place  for  the  adults'  assembling ;  not  in  the  chapel,  but  in  the  main  audito- 
rium. This  may  seem  a  little  matter,  and  so  it  is  relatively ;  but  it  has  its  im- 
portance in  the  formation  of  right  religious  habits,  in  training  the  footsteps  of 
the  young  to  tread  the  ^ath  that  leads  "up  Zion's  hill."  ....  Let  the  chil- 
dren's church  be  held  regularly.  Let  its  claims  to  observance  be  borne  in 
mind  and  respected  by  all.  If  it  is  forgotten,  omitted,  or  unceremoniously 
jostled  aside  a  few  times  to  make  way  for  some  other  special  or  regular  service, 
it  will  be  treated  by  the  children  in  the  same  spirit.     And  why  not  ?  .  .  .  . 

Let  it  be  a  pleasant  and  judicious  blending  of  the  methods  of  church  and 
Sunday-school,  both  in  worship  and  instruction.  Thus  the  children  will  be  led 
imperceptibly  from  the  school-house  to  the  house  of  God,  and  these  services 
will  be  the  stepping-stones.  The  church  will  have  a  place  in  their  thoughts 
and  loves.  The  sanctuary  and  its  order  of  worship  will  become  a  part  of  their 
habits.  The  minister  will  take  his  lawful  place  in  their  minds  as  their  pastor 
and  God's  ambassador  to  them.  And  in  after  years,  fewer  of  them  will  be 
alienated  from  the  counsel  of  the  minister  and.  the  ordinances  of  God's  house. 
IRev.  H.  C.  McCook,  of  St.  Louis,  iti  S.  S.  Times,  Dec.  5,  1868. 


Books  for  the  Leader  of  Children's  Meetings. — The  books  here 
named  are  only  such  as  will  be  of  service  in  preparing  for  or  conducting  general 
meetings  of  children,  as  advocated  in  this  work.  Usual  helps  to  Bible  study 
are  not  included,  nor  are  many  periodicals  and  volumes  on  Sunday-school  and 
class  management,  which  are  essential  to  the  superintendent  and  teacher  in 
their  ordinary  Sunday-schpol  labor.  The  list  makes  no  pretence  of  complete- 
ness. It  merely  gives  a  few  works  familiar  to  the  author  of  this  volume,  as 
suitable  for  the  specific  purpose  indicated. 

For  Hints  on  Children's  Services,  Opening  and  Closing  Exercises, 
&.C.      House's  Sunday-School  Hand-book,   Hitchcock  &  Walden;   Pardee's 


APPENDIX.  ^  351 

Sunday-school  Index,  Garrigues;  Sunday-school  Hand-book,  London  S.  S. 
Union;  Serjeant's  Sunday-school  Teaching,  London;  The  Sunday-school,  by 
Louisa  Davids,  London  S.  S.  Union;  Our  Sunday-school,  Waldo  Abbot, 
Hoyt;  Steel's  Christian  Teacher  in  Sunday-schools,  T.  Nelson  &  Sons; 
Todd's  Sabbath-school  Teacher,  Bridgman  &  Childs ;  The  Teacher  Taught, 
Am,  S.  S.  Union ;  Alfred  Taylor's  Sunday-school  Photographs,  Hoyt ;  Tyng'a 
Forty  Years'  Experience  in  Sunday-schools,  Sheldon  &  Co. ;  Report  of  the 
General  Sunday-school  Convention,  London,  1862 ;  Pray's  History  of  Sunday- 
schools,  Crosby  &.  Nichols  ;  Spooner's  Parson  and  People,  F.  J.  Huntington  1 
Country  Sunday-school,  Carlton  &  Porter ;  Sunday-school  Work  in  the  Benton 
Street  Mission,  St.  Louis,  by  E.  D.  Jones;  Johnson's  Manual  of  the  Lee 
Avenue  Sabbath-school,  Randolph;  Beal's  Manual  of  the  Cong.  Sabbath 
School,  Cohasset,  Mass. ;  Vincent's  Sunday-school  Reader,  Carlton  &  Porter  5 
Walden's  Sunday-school  Prayer-Book,  E.  P.  Button  &  Co. ;  Newton's  Offices 
of  Devotion  for  Sunday-schools ;  and  Short  Responsive  Liturgy  for  Sunday- 
schools,  Prot.  Epis.  Book  Society;  New  Sunday-school  Manual,  Carlton  8i 
Porter;  Worship  in  the  School-room,  W.  J.  Holland  &  Co.;  The  Singing 
Pilgrim,  by  Philip  Phillips ;  The  Infant  Class,  Charles  Reed,  London  S.  S. 
Union  ;  Martin's  Separate  Services  for  Children,  Loudon ;  Hart's  Thoughts 
on  Sabbath  Schools,  Presb.  Board. 

Material  and  Suggestions  for  Illustration  in  Addressing  Chil- 
dren. Hartley's  Pictorial  Teaching,  London  S.  S.  Union ;  Dowling's  Power 
of  Illustration,  Sheldon  &  Co. ;  Groser's  Illustrative  Teaching,  London  S.  S. 
Union ;  Freeman's  Use  of  Illustration  in  S.  S.  Teaching,  Carlton  &  Porter  j 
Newcomb's  Teachers'  Aid,  Mass.  S  S.  Soc. ;  Bible  Illustrations,  introduction 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Newton;  and  Bate's  Cyclopasdia  of  Illustrations,  Smith, 
English  &  Co. ;  Biblical  Treasury,  (annual  volumes.)  London  S-  S.  Union ; 
The  Land  and  the  Book,  by  Thomson,  Harpers' ;  Illustrative  Gatherings,  (two 
series,)  Perkinpine  &  Higgins;  Cranfield's  Branches  Running  over  the  Wall, 
London  S.  S.  Union ;  Parables  of  Krummacher,  Lindsay  &  Blakiston ;  Gott- 
hold's  Emblems,  Gould  8z  Lincoln ;  Good  News,  and  Things  New  and  Old, 
(annual  volumes,)  London  ;  Todd's  Stories  on  the  Shorter  Catechism,  Bridg- 
man &  Childs ;  Sunday-school  Anecdotes,  London  S.  S.  Union ;  Book  of 
Anecdotes,  London;  Peep  of  Day  Series;  Stories  on  the  Parables,  by 
A.  L.  O.  E.,  Carter;  Arvine's  Cyclopaedia  of  Moral  and  Religious  Anecdotes; 
Buck's  Religious  Anecdotes;  Anecdotes  for  the  Family;  and  Sketches  from 
Life,  Am.  Tract  Soc,  N.  Y.  ;  Parley's  Book  of  Fables. 

Specimen  Sermons  and  Addresses.  Dr.  Newton's  series  of  Sermons, 
Carters' ;  The  Child's  Preacher,  Carlton  &  Porter ;  The  Children's  Church 
at  Home,  by  Rev.  J.  Edmond,  T.  Nelson  &  Sons ;  Boyd's  f^ood  for  the 
Lambs,  Church  &  Goodman ;  McLean's  Food  for  the  Lambs,  N.  Tibbals  & 
Co. ;  Grapes  from  the  Great  Vine,  and  Under  the  Oak,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Breed, 
Presb    Board;    Piumer's  Sermons  for  Children,  Am.  S.  S.  Union;   Green- 


352  APPENDIX. 

wood's  Sermons  for  Children,  and  Peabody's  Sermons  for  Children,  Am.  Unit. 
Assoc. ;  S.  G.  Green's  Addresses  to  Children,  Pearls  for  the  Little  Ones,  and 
other  volumes,  London  ;  The  Children  and  the  Lion,  Rev.  Samuel  Wilber- 
force,  Carlton  &  Porter ;  Brace's  Sermons  to  Newsboys,  Scribner ;  Peirce's 
Stories  from  Life,  Hoyt;  Todd's  Lectures  to  Children,  and  Truth  Made 
Simple,  Bridgman  &  Childs ;  Collier's  Little  Crowns,  Carters' ;  Disosway's 
Children's  Book  of  Sermons,  Carlton  &  Porter. 

Helps  in  Preparing  Concert  Exercises.  Eadie's  Analytical  Con- 
cordance, Gould  &  Lincoln  ;  Simmons'  Scripture  Manual,  Dodd;  Index  to  the 
Persons,  Places  and  Subjects  mentioned  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  Eyre  &  Spot- 
tiswoode,  London,  (re-published  as  The  Bible  Text  Book,  Am.  Tract  Soc, 
N.  Y.) ;  Curious  and  Useful  Questions  on  the  Bible,  (three  series,)  Carlton 
&  Porter ;  looo  Questions  and  Propositions,  Am.  S.  S.  Union ;  Sunday-school 
Concert  Exercises,  (monthly  series,)  H.  Hoyt;  Sunday-school  Exhibition 
Exercises,  (three  numbers,)  Carlton  &  Porter;  Brooks'  Concert  Exercises  fca 
the  Use  of  Sunday-scliools,  N.  Tibbals  &  Co. 


BIBLE    LESSONS 

FOR  THE 

Sunday-School  Concert 

OR 

THE  CHILDREN'S    SERVICE. 


A  Cheap  Edition  in  Paper  Covers. 


On  the  author's  recommendation,  the  publishers  of  "Children 
IN  THE  Temple"  have  issued  Part  III.  of  that  book,  comprising 
the  Bible  Lessons,  by  itself,  in  paper  covers.  This  will  put  the 
Lessons  within  reach  of  every  Teacher,  that  they  may  be  used 
at  Sunday-School  Concerts,  or  other  Meetings  of  the  Children, 
in  accordance  with  the  suggestion  on  page  85. 

Copies  of  these  Lessons — Part  III.  complete — can  be  obtained 
of  the  publishers  direct  or  of  any  bookseller,  at  Fifty  Cents  per 
copy,  or  twelve  copies  for  Five  Dollars,  postage  paid. 


AGENTS    WANTED, 


"  The  Book  for  the  Timesr 

"I  M  M  AN  U  EL," 

OR 

The  Life  of  Jesus  Christ, 

O  u  r  L  0  r  d\ 

BY 

ZACHARY    EDDY,  D.   D. 

WITH  AN    INTRODUCTION   BY 

RICHARD  S.  STORRS,  Jr.,  D.  D. 

Christians  of  all  orthodox  denominations  will  read  this  excel- 
lent work  with  delight  and  profit  I  wish  God  speed  to  this  and 
every  similar  effort  to  lift  up  Christ  before  men. — Rev.  Richard 
Neiuto7i^  D.  D.,  Rector  of  the  Chu7'ch  of  the  Epiphany^  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 

It  cannot  fail  to  interest  the  most  cultivated  minds,  and  its 
general  circulation  must  accomplish  great  good. — Rev.  Daniel 
March,  D.  D.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

The  engravings  of  Jerusalem  in  the  frontispiece  are  almost  the 
best  we  have  ever  seen. — Standard,  Chicago,  III. 

We  welcome  this  volume.  It  is  a  valuable  contribution  to  the 
literature  of  the  world. — Pittsburgh  Advocate,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

It  meets  a  want  which  none  others  in  the  l^guage  supplies  so 
well. — Rev.  George  Barton  Ide,  D.  D.,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Sold  Only  by  Subscription. 

Liberal  Previiiims  ivill  be  paid  Pastors  and  Sunday-School  Stc- 
perintendejits  to  7-eco77imend  Agents  for  the  work. 

W.  J.  HOLLAND  &  CO.,  Publishers, 

SPRINGFIELD,  MASS. 


Date  Due 

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SELLERS  &STATIONERS. 

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